In the Confederate South:
- Women on the Homefront: Many women kept the farms and plantations functioning, oversaw business and financial matters while their husbands fought in the war, and actively sought ways to support the southern cause
- Relief and Hospital work: Women served as volunteers, nurses, and caregivers in hospitals, providing medical assistance to wounded soldiers. The United Daughters of the Confederacy(UDC), formed during the war, helped organize relief efforts and support the morale of soldiers.
- Production Roles: Women often took up jobs in factories and workshops, producing uniforms, munitions, and other supplies needed for the war effort.
- Plantation management: Women assumed the management and supervision of plantations when men were away at war. They made decisions on crop production, labor allocation, and ensured the continuation of agricultural activities.
- Food production: Many women engaged in food production activities such as gardening, canning, and preserving food to sustain their families and communities during the war.
- Fundraising: Women held fundraisers and charity events to support soldier's relief and war efforts. They organized fairs and events, contributing financially to the cause.
In the Union North and Border states:
- Relief work: Women, often associated with religious organizations or benevolent societies, provided aid to soldiers, including care packages and medical assistance.
- Nursing: Clara Barton, a pioneering nurse, is known for her work during the war, organizing nursing services and providing direct patient care.
- Teaching and Education: With many men fighting in the war, women stepped in to fill teaching positions in schools, contributing to the education of children during the conflict.
- Textile Industry: Women found employment in textile mills and factories, manufacturing uniforms, blankets and other textile items for the Union Army.
- Women's Rights Advocacy: Some women used the opportunities provided by wartime conditions to advocate for women's rights and the suffrage movement, calling for equal rights and recognition of women's contributions.
- Secretarial and office work: Women worked as clerks, secretaries, and in other administrative roles in government offices and businesses.
Despite the restrictions imposed on women's roles during that time, the civil war created unique opportunities for women to demonstrate their strength, resilience and capabilities, laying the groundwork for future advancements in women's rights.