The Business of Being a Woman

"The Business of Being a Woman" by Ida M. Tarbell is a critical look at women's roles in the early 1900s, exploring how society's changing views impact their identities and decisions. Tarbell analyzes the "Uneasy Woman," who embodies the restlessness and dissatisfaction felt by many American women after gaining more freedom, and discusses how societal norms often diminish their work. The book suggests becoming a woman involves domesticity and motherhood while challenging a system where women’s work is undervalued. It considers the difficulties women encounter when trying to balance public expectations with personal goals and criticizes both men and women for continuing a system that undervalues all workers of the home.