A living wage is defined as the minimum income necessary for a worker to meet his or her basic needs. This is not the same as a subsistence wage, which refers to a biological minimum. Needs are defined to include food, housing, and other essential needs such as clothing.
The Gilded Age also was characterized by social reform, such as women's suffrage, workplace improvements, prohibition, and civil service changes. Women were politically active and played a large role in the economy, both as workers and consumers.
