Conclusion

The Progressive Era, like the name suggests, was a period of intense political progress and transformations. Indeed, by the end of the 1920s, women's rights movements bore fruits with the right to vote, and women had increasingly forged their way into public spaces like bars and nightlife. Political progress, however, does not necessarily translate into social progress: standards for women’s romantic relationships were still extremely rigid and much more strict than those for men. These standards compelled some women to submit themselves to unequal relationships with men.

Yet, women who defied norms were not as much of an exception as they might seem. The women in this exhibit—Isabella Rittenhouse, Jane Addams, and Kate Sanborn—are just three examples of the many women who refused to let society’s norms and expectations dictate how they would lead their lives. They defied the norms and bravely forged the path for women to free themselves from societal hold and effectively lead lives of their own.