Frances Perkins and the New Deal | Caregiving

Meet Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve in a U.S. presidential cabinet, who used her groundbreaking role as Secretary of Labor under President Franklin D. Roosevelt to protect workers, families, and caregivers. Drawing from her personal experiences caring for family members and witnessing poor labor conditions, Perkins championed policies like Social Security, child labor laws, and the 40-hour workweek. Her advocacy laid the foundation for recognizing caregiving as essential labor and continues to influence discussions on family leave, workplace protections, and economic justice today.