Women Essay Research Paper AbstractIntroductionThe way in

Women Essay, Research Paper

Abstract/Introduction

The way in which women are seen today, in America, is very different

from the way they were seen two hundred years ago. Back then women were not allowed

to speak as often as they would have liked to. They were expected to be care-givers, have

and raise children, and do household duties such as cleaning and cooking for the family.

Basically that was a women s typical role, men were constantly seen as being way above

women, so therefore they would always be the ones who commanded or had the final

word in what would be done. Women were seen as passive and weak, and not as able to

accomplish physically or mentally all that men could.

This is in complete contrast from the way in which society sees women today. In

this country women have the ability and choice to create their own lives, own businesses,

become what they ve always dreamed, speak their minds, or balance a family and a

career. If we put in the effort we are able to accomplish all a man can accomplish, or

maybe even more. It is important to look back upon history and value the actions taken

by women in the 19th and 20th century to get society to where we are today. It is also

crucial that we look at the events that took place, because the progress that women have

made has been due to the way women fought for their rights, and the circumstances that

came our way.

Women in America, Social Change and The Legal System

It all started back in the revolutionary era which brought women responsibility

because men were away at war. Women found themselves capable of managing

households, businesses, and estates. But when the men returned home, more often than

not, women were expected to return to their original roles. Because of the new

inventions and the new means of communication throughout the 1800’s, women were

given more time to crusade for their cause. The post-war generation came with food-

canning, the telephone, gas illumination, the linotype machine, which made office work

easier for women, and the bicycle which opened the door for more comfortable clothes,

railroads also made travel more easy. These inventions definitely gave women more

time, and made women s lives easier. Women s magazines also gave women a voice and

character, for the first time people became interested in what women were thinking and

doing as persons instead of just housewives. As the century progressed more and more

colleges began to accept women, therefore enabling women to become educated and

obtain resources that would make them leaders, writers, poets, and so on.

These changes also brought women to new realizations. It stirred women up, and

gave them the desire to be heard and acknowledged. July, 1848 brought five women

together, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Martha Wright, Jane Hunt, and Mary

Ann McClintock. This group met for a social afternoon in Seneca Falls to discuss the

numerous grievances suffered by women. The Seneca Falls Women s Right Convention

took place on July 18th and 19th in 1848. These five women had written up a Declaration

of Women s Rights and displayed it to the thousands of women who showed up for the

first convention, and the conventions that were to follow. From these conventions

millions of women were inspired and decided to join the movement, one of these was

Susan B. Anthony.

Susan B. Anthony joined Mrs. Stanton in campaigns by petition and bombarded

the state legislature with signatures of millions of women who wanted their rights. (1850-

1920) Susan B. Anthony also organized the collection of four hundred thousand

signatures urging the passage of the 13th Amendment which would abolish slavery. Susan

B. Anthony was an influential leader in the Women s Movement, as well as the Civil

Rights Movement and encouraged others to do likewise.

When the Civil War began, the movement was put on hold temporarily. A

woman s role became that of nurse, seamstress, farmer, worker, and so on. About four

hundred women enlisted themselves to fight in the war as men. Some women went in

disguised, and fought for our country without being recognized. When the war was

finally over, and veterans returned to their households many women lost the jobs they had

taken over, and if their husbands or sons had been killed at war they were left without

money, homes, or possessions. With all of this going on Susan B. Anthony organized

The New York Working Women s Protective Union in 1868, this union was made to

protect women against unfair practices and employers.

In 1870 the women s suffrage movement continued on standstill when the 15th

Amendment to the Constitution was ratified. It gave the right to vote to all men

regardless of race. Although men of different races, primarily black had been given the

right to vote, and this was a step forward, black and white women had still been denied

equ

Внимание, отключите Adblock

Вы посетили наш сайт со включенным блокировщиком рекламы!
Ссылка для скачивания станет доступной сразу после отключения Adblock!

Скачать