As an African American woman living in the 19th century United States, Ellen Eglin faced pervasive racial discrimination in education, employment, and social interactions. These discriminatory practices limited her opportunities and created significant barriers to success.

Eglin also experienced gender inequality, which further compounded the challenges she faced. Societal expectations and biases against women in business and invention made it difficult for her to gain recognition and support for her ideas.

Born into a modest socioeconomic background, Eglin likely faced financial limitations that impacted her ability to access resources and pursue her entrepreneurial endeavors. These constraints may have made it challenging to obtain patents, market her inventions, and compete with established businesses.

The most prominent obstacle was the exploitation of her clothes wringer invention. Her decision to sell the rights for a small sum due to racial bias highlights the systemic disadvantages faced by African American inventors during that period.