When the Civil War is discussed, women are seldom mentioned, but they were a vital part of society during the war. At the time of the war, the rights of women were few, and expectations were high on them, they were expected to be dainty and ladylike at all times. The onset of war helped to change that to a degree. The beginning of Women’s Lib is often considered the Civil War era. With the men off to war, women were allowed to work in formally male dominated jobs, and proved to be quite competent in their undertakings. Women ran farms, worked factory jobs, and did almost every other imaginable job during the wartime years, proving to many that women could work alongside men. Some women took their drive for equality even further, enlisting into the armies disguised as men. A good number of women saw action after sneaking into the ranks.

While the common women were working, the affluent women, especially in the South, remained very proper and ladylike. The elaborate dress of the affluent members of society during this era is well documented: many layers of garments, including hoop skirts, were worn. In some areas, the war became a form of entertainment for the wealthy, they traveled to the battle field to watch the fighting.

Possibly the most important women during the Civil War were the army nurses. Considered by many in high society to be quite vulgar, they didn’t wear hoop skirts or act "ladylike", these women were a godsend to the wounded soldier. The nurses followed the fighting, coming out onto the field after skirmishes to nurse the wounded. Although the nurses didn’t have much to do with major medical procedures, and they seldom assisted doctors or distributed medication, they were invaluable to the armies. Nurses gave water to wounded soldiers, applied bandages to wounds, and ,most importantly, comforted the soldiers. Many carried bibles, or sang to the wounded soldiers to ease their suffering. As a rule, nurses were to be plain looking, so soldiers wouldn’t be distracted by them, they’re job was to blend in and just do their jobs. The nurses of the armies are some of the most unsung heroes of the Civil War.

Despite the fairly limited role that the male dominated society of the time allowed women to play, women did play a very important role in the war. This time also saw women beginning to gain consciousness of their own equality to men, which culminated when they attained the right to vote some fifty years after the war.

The women picutured above is Anna Ella Carroll, a journalist, detective, and political activist who was said by some to be the "unrecognized member of Lincoln's cabinet" because of the respect he showed for her opinions.