Women’s History - National Museum of American History Visit our history month page to learn about our special activities Understanding women’s history is integral to understanding the American experience Although often underrepresented in recorded histories, women helped build the United States of America of today and women will help shape the United States of America of the future
Rosie, Wendy, and Government Girls: The women behind the war Today, we often associate the women workers during World War II with the popular symbol Rosie the Riveter, but as the museum's collections show, "Rosies" were just one of the many types of women workers during the war
Women in World War I - National Museum of American History Other women donned uniforms because of their association with the military—World War I was the first time in American history in which women were officially attached to arms of the American military and government agencies Yeomen (F) served with the Navy and the Marine Corps, while the Army Nurse Corps was attached to the Army
Make-up - National Museum of American History In eighteenth century America, both men and women of the upper classes wore make-up But, shortly after the American Revolution the use of visible “paint” cosmetics (colored cosmetic for lips, skin, eyes, and nails) by either gender gradually became socially unacceptable For most of the nineteenth century few paint cosmetics were manufactured in America Instead, women relied on recipes
Home | National Museum of American History The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History preserves our nation’s collections and tells a full and complex history of the United States
Votes for Women - National Museum of American History Members of the National American Woman Suffrage Association organized statewide “Votes for Women” campaigns They used buttons, signs, and gimmicks like the ring parade spinner to promote their cause and tracked their progress with maps and stars representing their victories The western states were the first to accept women as voters
Womens Uniforms - National Museum of American History Women's highly visible and recognized wartime service, facilitated by their adoption of uniforms, ultimately contributed to their attainment of the right to vote in 1920 About Our Collection Our museum holds a vast collection of women’s uniforms from World War I, several of which are featured below
Skin Care - National Museum of American History Both white women and women of color used products to bleach their skin, to lighten or conceal discolored areas, and to soothe and smooth irritated skin and acne However, few mainstream cosmetic companies marketed to or acknowledged African American consumers, and most common skin care products were not manufactured in colors to suit darker skin
Videos and Podcasts - National Museum of American History The museum produces podcasts and video content that both share the stories of individual women who have made significant contributions to American society and explore women's historical experiences in the United States more broadly
History of Sweatshops: 1940-1997 - National Museum of American History The New Sweatshop Worker Immigrants continue to power the U S apparel industry and the volatile women’s fashion sector in particular Like their predecessors, many new arrivals find their first jobs assembling clothing As they gain English language skills and improve their education and training, they leave for better jobs and are replaced by more recent immigrants As in earlier times