When did American women begin wearing pants?

In 'America's Women' Gail Collins writes about women wearing pants while doing war work in WW2. She Says:

"Though women wore slacks for athletics they were not yet common for street wear. When four WASPS were grounded by weather in Americus, Georgia, in 1944, they were arrested by local police for violating a rule against women wearing slacks on the street at night."

I'd say that it started out in the 1920's but it wasn't lady like or something. Then it became a fad in the 1940's when women had to work in factories.

Edit: Yeah it was illegal for the longest time. Women who still wanted to wear pants would cross dress and get into bigger trouble.

I've heard it was illegal at one time too. I think it may have started during the great depression or WWII. Women had to work at jobs like never before and there was a lack of goods of all kinds. I can't imagine not ever wearing pants!

most of them still dont. many wear what they call capris,they are longer than shorts, but not as long as pants. its weird to, you would think pants with a full leg would cost more than capris, but it is the opposite. they charge more to cut a piece off the legs. some i have seen, look like a taller lady tried to fit into a way shorter girls jeans. the ladys full length pants alot of times are missing a section just below the back so their underpants hang out the sides. also ive seen a lot of ladys pants that look like a hunter or farmer wore them for a couple of weeks, all torn and tattered, then had their wife take them to a fancy clothing store and steal a nice pair of capris, then put the worn pants on the hanger when they leave. ive seen girls buy these pants and pay the capri price, they even think these pants are cool.

never wear any long dress or skirt because of my height, you are made by it look shorter and fatter.

don't really wear dresses or dresses but an extended one would be better than a brief one

Mid to Late 1800's.

http://www.jolique.com/gif_and_jpeg_images/img0237...

http://www.nps.gov/wori/historyculture/images/Bloo...

http://www.zdiaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/tu...

http://fuzzylizzie.com/myPictures/sports/bicycle18...

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~UG02/hendrick/bloomers...

http://fuzzylizzie.com/myPictures/camp/teenscamper...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2030/2237103820_802...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/52/112957808_260a7a...

It was mostly religious freaks who made it illegal for women to wear to pants and imposed their pet sets of sensibilities onto everyone else through public laws. In most fundamental religions and cults still today it is a "sin" for women to wear pants.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/54701/the...

http://www.spiritualabuse.org/issues/standards/dre...

http://www.centurionministry.org/body/pants.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTDfN1JWsFw

The freaks just make it up as they go. None of that crap was in the original Bible. Per Vatican report, the "Bible" has been revised over 22,000 times to suit the whim of whatever demi-god baboon has had the biggest fist or bank account at the moment, like the King James "Version".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/765110...

1920s

women started wearing pants in late 60s. it was the hippy revolution along with the pill -- Freedom was pretty good.

when did american women started wearing pants? when they found out that in the winter gets cold