Barton As one of the first women to work for the federal government, she fought for equal pay

Clara Barton is considered by both her contemporaries and contemporaries today as a groundbreaking advocate for women's rights for a variety of reasons. With a salary equal to that of men, she was hired in 1854 to work as a clerk at the Patent Office. In 1854, Barton moved to Washington, DC, where she worked as a copyist for the United States Patent Office. With her position in the patent office, Barton became one of the first women to work for the federal government, and at the time, equal pay for men and women was unprecedented.

She was appointed by the government as the first woman within a year of being promoted to the secretary. She was able to convince her male classmates, many of whom disliked working with women, to pay her the same remuneration of $1,400.

She persisted and remained in the Patent Office until 1865, despite the political whims of her position and the hostility she received from her male colleagues. me. Her pay rise was short-lived. She was demoted to a copywriter by a new boss, where she was paid 10 cents for every 100 words.