ABSTRACT
Frances Perkins, educator, social worker, and leader in government, was the first woman cabinet member in New York State government and the first cabinet member of a federal bureau as Secretary of the Department of Labor. Driven by values of perseverance, fortitude, and social justice, Perkins paved the way for women in politics and dedicated her life to improving the working conditions of the American labor force.This short review only scratches the surface of Perkins's multitude of accomplishments. It briefly tracks her early years as an educator and social worker and then provides a more in-depth assessment of the challenges she faced particularly in her leadership positions in government. Her gender would certainly become a lightning rod for the powerbrokers of her times.
