Progressives resisted the traditional idea that men and women occupied different social spheres, and thus encouraged women to get outside of the home to work, attend college, engage in charity, et al$.$ Ironically, this belief in improving the lives of women went against the traditional Progressive ideology by:

Promoting gender equality when the Progressive movement was inherently sexist

Supporting women in the public sphere while Progressives were opposed to women's suffrage

Stressing individualism over assocation and what was best for the many

Encouraging college education over labor in the working classes