Women work in a flour mill in England during World War I, circa 1915-1918, in this Library of Congress handout photo. For women 100 years ago, opportunities to work beyond the home and take part in political life were very limited. As the 20th century progressed, hard-won progress included gradually improved voting rights, while the upheaval of war pushed doors ajar as women worked as part of the war effort. U.S. Library of Congress archive photos show women's workplaces ranging from a flour mill in England to a coal mine in Belgium or Lincoln Motor Co.'s welding department in Detroit. International Women's Day is celebrated on March 8. (Photo by Reuters/Bain Collection/Library of Congress)





A man and women, one holding an American flag, work in an office at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York, July 7, 1917, in this Library of Congress handout photo. (Photo by Reuters/Bain Collection/Library of Congress)





Belgian women workers pose for a photograph as they stand in line holding baskets and shovels near a coal mine, circa 1910-1915, in this Library of Congress handout photo. (Photo by Reuters/Bain Collection/Library of Congress)





Two women stand outside the Two Girls Waffle House, circa 1900-1916, in this Library of Congress handout photo. (Photo by Reuters/Bain Collection/Library of Congress)





The Onofrio Cottone family finish garments in a tenement in New York, January 1913, in this Library of Congress handout photo. The three oldest children Joseph, 14, Andrew, 10, and Rosie, 7, help their mother sew garments and together they make about $2 a week when work is plenty. (Photo by Reuters/Bain Collection/Library of Congress)





Women scientists (standing) Miss Nellie A. Brown, (seated L-R) Miss Lucia McCollock, Miss Mary K. Bryan and Miss Florence Hedges work at a laboratory, circa 1910-1920, in this Library of Congress handout photo. (Photo by Reuters/Bain Collection/Library of Congress)





A woman street worker sweeps a street in Germany, circa 1909-1920, in this Library of Congress handout photo. (Photo by Reuters/Bain Collection/Library of Congress)





Women work in an office as a portrait of President Warren Harding is displayed on the mantle, circa 1921-1923, in this Library of Congress handout photo. (Photo by Reuters/Bain Collection/Library of Congress)





Members of The Women's Radio Corps stand beside an army car, circa February 1919, in this Library of Congress handout photo.. (Photo by Reuters/Bain Collection/Library of Congress)




Women work in ordnance plants during World War I making fibre powder containers at W.C. Ritchie & Co. ib Chicago, Illinois, circa 1914-1918, in this Library of Congress handout photo. (Photo by Reuters/Bain Collection/Library of Congress)





Women wear goggles as they work in the welding department of Lincoln Motor Co., Detroit, Michigan, circa 1914-1918, in this Library of Congress handout photo. (Photo by Reuters/Bain Collection/Library of Congress)





Peasants in the re-taken Somme District work in the fields, circa 1916- 1917, in this Library of Congress handout photo. (Photo by Reuters/Bain Collection/Library of Congress)





An African American woman dusts as she works as a porter at a subway station in New York City, United States, circa 1917, in this Library of Congress handout photo. (Photo by Reuters/Bain Collection/Library of Congress)





Women work at a laundry, circa 1905, in this Library of Congress handout photo. (Photo by Reuters/Bain Collection/Library of Congress)





A policewoman (right) arrests Florence Youmans (left) of Minnesota and Annie Arniel of Delaware for refusing to give up their banners while picketing for women's voting rights outside the White House in Washington DC, June 1917, in this Library of Congress handout photo. Arniel was one of the first six suffrage prisoners and served eight separate jail sentences for Watchfire demonstrations. (Photo by Reuters/Bain Collection/Library of Congress)