Untold Stories Of Working Women
They weren’t CEOs, and they didn’t wear capes, but they kept everything running. Women held countless jobs that shaped the world behind the scenes.
Fabric Sorter
Before fabric ever hit a sewing machine, it had to be sorted by texture, pattern, color, or quality, and that’s where fabric sorters came in. Their sharp eyes and even sharper instincts helped them detect what passed inspection.
Do you need help sorting fabric? Secret lives Block #23 & April Calendar by Pat Sloan
Nurse
More than just a job, nursing was (and still is) a calling grounded in compassion and grace. Nurses wore crisp white uniforms, spotless shoes, and those iconic caps that symbolized skill and care years prior to the polished scrubs we see today.
Linda Bartlett (Photographer), Wikimedia Commons
Nurse (Cont.)
In addition to checking pulses, they changed dressings, delivered babies, held hands through pain, and stayed calm in crisis. Hospitals leaned on them and families trusted them. And while shows like General Hospital turned nurses into familiar TV faces, the real heroes always worked in silence.
Zoltan Kluger, Wikimedia Commons
Laundress
Washing machines weren’t always a push-button affair. Laundresses scrubbed and wrung out piles of clothes by hand or heavy machine. They battled sweat and stains the hard way. Their tools? Boiling water, washboards, buckets, lye soap, and sheer stamina.
Elin Danielson-Gambogi, Wikimedia Commons
Laundress (Cont.)
Most were employed in grand homes or commercial washhouses, and they tackled mountains of linens and clothes day after day. It wasn’t glamorous work, as blisters and burns were all part of the uniform. Still, laundresses took pride in sending garments back fresh and neatly pressed.
From a photograph by J. Giletta, Wikimedia Commons
Secretary
Back in the day, every office had a backbone, and she usually sat right outside the boss’s door. Secretaries did it all: typing at warp speed, setting meetings, juggling calls with one hand and coffee cups with the other, and somehow remembering every birthday.
Secretary (Cont.)
Being digital calendars and Slack channels all in one, secretaries were quiet powerhouses. With heels clicking down linoleum halls, they ran things with a sharp mind. Secretaries like Joan Holloway from Mad Men became symbols of style and substance, but the real-life versions were even sharper.
Boston Public Library, Unsplash
Keypunch Operator
These women turned data into punch cards: literal pieces of cardboard with tiny holes that fed early computers their instructions. It sounds dull today, but it was state-of-the-art at the time. Keypunch operators were like data DJs, grooving to the rhythm of technology before tech was cool.
U.S. Census Bureau employees, Wikimedia Commons
Dictaphone Transcriber
Dictaphone transcribers were the voice-to-text apps of the past. These ladies listened to recordings of bosses mumbling into tapes and turned them into flawless documents. Decoding unclear speech and background noise took skill and probably a lot of eye rolls.
Columbia Phonograph Co., Wikimedia Commons
Stenographer
Armed with a tiny, clunky machine and a brain that worked faster than most could speak, stenographers turned spoken chaos into written precision. They transcribed courtroom dramas, high-stakes meetings, and public speeches in real time—without missing a beat. This job has actually originated in ancient Greece.
Dorothea Lange, Wikimedia Commons
Stenographer (Cont.)
Women have been rocking this field for ages, knowing that there was no room for error. One misplaced syllable could change the record. Their shorthand looked like secret code, and honestly, it kind of was. You’d see them in the corner of a room, typing furiously while everyone else argued.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
Typist
Manual typewriters didn’t forgive mistakes, and neither did the office supervisor. Typists, mostly women, typed letter after letter, invoice after invoice, with incredible speed and terrifying accuracy. A single typo meant yanking the page and starting over.
Miscellaneous Items in High Demand, PPOC, Library of Congress, Wikimedia Commons
Typist (Cont.)
Typing pools filled entire rooms, and the sound of synchronized clacking echoed like a business symphony. These women kept the paperwork flowing in insurance firms and publishing houses. There were no spell checkers, no backups, just whiteout and determination.
Harris & Ewing, photographer, Wikimedia CommonsGoverness
She was an educator, role model, friend, and surrogate parent, all rolled into one. Living in the homes of the upper class, a governess taught wealthy children their first words and manners. Sometimes, she was also the only moral compass they’ve got.
Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin, Wikimedia Commons
Governess (Cont.)
Though she held authority over the children, she occupied a strange space in the household: not quite servant, not quite family. Remember Jane Eyre or The Sound of Music? They were part intellect, part emotional anchor, and often caught in a sea of social tension.
Miscellaneous Items in High Demand, PPOC, Library of Congress, Wikimedia Commons
Receptionist
The voice of the company and the gatekeeper to the boss, the receptionist was the first smile you saw and the last person you wanted to tick off. Managing the switchboard and directing delivery guys, she did it all with grace and probably a rotary phone. So, don't mistake her for the secretary.
Bill Branson (photographer), Wikimedia Commons
Telegraph Operator
Morse code may seem ancient now, but back then, telegraph operators were vital to fast communication. These women could tap out a message quicker than most of us can type. During wars and business deals, they were the link between distant people and urgent news.
Esther Bubley, Wikimedia Commons
Hotel Chambermaid
Behind every clean hotel room was a chambermaid with aching feet and a heavy car. They stripped beds, scrubbed tubs, vacuumed carpets, and folded towels into little animals long before anyone thought to thank them with a tip. The job was physical and often invisible.
Hotel Chambermaid (Cont.)
Chambermaids were expected to be polite, efficient, and completely out of sight. Old comedies showed them pushing carts with an eye-roll and a punchline, but real chambermaids carried the weight of guest comfort on their shoulders. Today, this job isn’t as exclusive to women as it used to be.
Midwife
Hospital births are now standard, but midwives used to deliver babies in bedrooms using lantern lights. They knew when to push and when to pray. After childbirth, these amazing women would provide guidance to the new mothers and help them take care of their children.
Midwife (Cont.)
Though modern medicine eventually sidelined them, shows like Call the Midwife reminded us of their vital role. In cities, these ladies filled the gaps in crowded hospitals. In rural towns, they were the only healthcare option. Some people would still choose them.
Call the Midwife by Comic Relief: Red Nose Day
Message Relay Clerk
Offices and newsrooms once relied on message relay clerks to pass long handwritten notes and updates prior to the invention of DMs and emails. They were the news ninjas carrying the most urgent messages that everyone was waiting for.
Signalhead at English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons
Seamstress
Today, the fast fashion industry offers multiple jobs to men and women. Yet, there was a time when seamstresses were the hands behind every stitch and button. Sewing school uniforms at home or making beautiful dresses in workshops, these hard workers mixed artistry and endurance.
George Grantham Bain Collection, Wikimedia Commons
Seamstress (Cont.)
They could turn flat fabric into something that fits perfectly without YouTube tutorials. The job was labor-intensive and often poorly paid. Hollywood painted them as dreamy-eyed romantics with needles in hand, but in real life, they met quotas and kept entire wardrobes stitched together.
Conrad Poirier, Wikimedia Commons
Milliner (Hat Maker)
In a time when no outfit was complete without a hat, milliners were fashion royalty with scissors. They sculpted straw, velvet, ribbon, and feathers into head-turning masterpieces. Their innovative designs crowned everyone from churchgoers to brides and debutantes to stars. Such creations shaped seasonal trends.
Carlton Alfred Smith, Wikimedia Commons
Milliner (Hat Maker) (Cont.)
Making hats was technical and precise, not just creative work. It demanded an eye for proportion and a sense of flair. In vintage films, the hat shop was always buzzing with gossip and glamor, but the women behind the scenes were meticulous artisans.
Behind the Scenes with Luxury Custom Hat Maker Claire West by NewsChannel 5
Sunday School Teacher
Teaching morality with felt boards and cookies, Sunday school teachers made religion approachable for squirmy kids in itchy sweaters. It wasn’t a paid gig most of the time, but it gave many women a leadership role within their communities.
Creator:Alfred Fedetsky, Wikimedia Commons
Filing Clerk
Ages prior to Dropbox and digital drives, the office’s memory lived in metal cabinets and filing clerks knew every inch of them. These women spent their days buried in folders, invoices, carbon copies, and memos held together by aging paper clips.
Filing Clerk (Cont.)
Their job was to organize chaos alphabetically and chronologically with surgical precision. If something went missing, the whole department would turn to them like they were office oracles. Filing clerks kept businesses from losing track of money and clients.
Home Health Aide
Home health aides were and are still lifelines to those in need. Although more men take part now, there was a time when it was a pink collar job. They would help an aging parent stay independent or support someone recovering from surgery while offering more than medical help.
Home Health Aide (Cont.)
These women cooked meals, cleaned homes, administered medications, and, most importantly, provided companionship. The job required patience and emotional strength, often with little thanks or time off. Unlike hospital staff, they worked alone, facing difficult tasks in unfamiliar homes.
Pattern Cutter
Before anything got stitched, someone had to cut the shape and pattern cutters were the quiet artists behind the design. Using chalk and massive shears, these women worked with precision and focus. It was like puzzle-solving with fabric.
Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer, Wikimedia Commons
Hosiery Mender
Runs in stockings? These were a fashion emergency and hosiery menders were the solution. Equipped with magnifying glasses and steady hands, they repaired fine nylon like surgeons. During the wartime nylon shortage, their skills were gold. It was a delicate art that kept legs looking flawless.
State Library of Queensland, Australia, Wikimedia Commons
Coat Check Attendant
At swanky theaters and restaurants, coat check attendants handled fur stoles and suit jackets, both with care. Sometimes even and umbrellas. It wasn’t flashy, but the job was all about first impressions. Most time it would set the tone for the whole evening.
Walter Mier, Wikimedia Commons
Candy Striper
Wearing red-and-white uniforms that looked like peppermint sticks, candy stripers were teenage volunteers in hospitals. They would hand out books, help patients walk, or just brighten the room. It was often a girl’s first exposure to work, and in most cases, it was underpaid or not paid at all.
Florida Memory, Wikimedia Commons
Kindergarten Teacher
Kindergarten teachers were always the gentle guides into the world of learning. They taught the ABCs, numbers, colors, and how to stand in a straight line—no small feat. These women turned finger painting into a life lesson and circle time into a social experiment.
Mr. Reithmaier, Wikimedia Commons
Kindergarten Teacher (Cont.)
They noticed when a child was struggling and celebrated every gold star like it was the Olympics. For many kids, they were the first adults outside the family to be trusted. Many still remember their first teachers with gratitude and love.
Airline Stewardess
In the golden age of flying, being an airline stewardess was considered glamorous but it was also grueling. These young ladies did more than serve meals in heels. They were trained in safety protocols, emergency landings, and passenger management—all while looking effortlessly composed.
Austrian Airlines, Wikimedia Commons
Airline Stewardess (Cont.)
Their uniforms were stylish, and their makeup was always on point. Despite exhausting schedules, many young women aspired to fly. In 1960s pop culture, they were icons of elegance and adventure. But behind the charm, these women were exploring strict appearance rules and a male-dominated industry.
San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives, Wikimedia Commons
Soda Fountain Attendant
Soda fountains were the social scene of small-town America. And the young women behind the counter? They ran the show. With an apron tied tight and a cherry on top, soda fountain attendants whipped up sundaes and remembered everyone’s usual order.
Cosmetics Counter Attendant
These were the artists before Instagram. Cosmetics attendants gave makeovers and boosted confidence while suggesting the perfect shade for every skin tone. They worked in department stores, flashing smiles under fluorescent lights. These young ladies made beauty feel personal long before Sephora or Ulta took over the game.
Charlie Brewer from Sydney, Australia, Wikimedia Commons
Ticket Booth Attendant
Sitting behind a glass window with a tiny speaker and a drawer that slid just far enough, ticket booth attendants were the gatekeepers to entertainment and travel. You could find them at a bustling movie theater or lively amusement park.
Travel Agent Clerk
With friendly faces and rotary phones, travel agents offered what trip planning apps do today. They had destination maps and endless brochures, working behind tidy desks and turning dream vacations into itineraries. Travel agent clerks helped business travelers make tight connections and had to be customer service pros.
Reservation and Transportation ticket agents and travel clerks Career Video by CareerOneStop
Travel Agent Clerk (Cont.)
Dealing with picky clients is never easy, but these young women made last-minute changes with a smile. It wasn’t uncommon for a loyal traveler to send them postcards or souvenirs from faraway places. They were selling the promise of something better, waiting on the other end of the flight.
Reservation and Transportation ticket agents and travel clerks Career Video by CareerOneStop
