Frances Perkins was an incredibly influential American yet is virtually unknown. What did she do? A lot! For instance, Social Security was her brainchild. And that's just the tip of the old iceberg.
# Summary
This Stuff You Should Know episode celebrates the extraordinary life of Frances Perkins, one of America's most influential yet largely forgotten figures who fundamentally shaped modern labor rights and social safety nets. Josh and Chuck dive into how this trailblazing woman became the first female cabinet member under FDR and orchestrated major achievements like the Social Security Act, unemployment insurance, minimum wage laws, child labor abolition, and the Wagner Act that gave workers the right to unionize. From witnessing the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire that sparked her passion for workplace safety to her courageous stands on immigration and workers' rights, Perkins proves that one dedicated person with brains, heart, and persistence can genuinely change the course of history—whether or not anyone remembers her name.
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