Progressives were looking to change the problems of industrial society. Reformers wanted to tackle the tensions of urbanization, professors wanted new ideas to guide remedial action, and journalists exposed government corruption. Business leaders wanted to enforce efficiency and regulation, and industrial workers struggled to improve their bad working conditions. Women organized to protect their families and homes. Working condition issues - working conditions were difficult and dangerous. Workers worked around 9-12 hours/day, and wages were minimal. These conditions were not sustainable for a family, and so women and children had to work to provide for the their family.