1849 to 1910 was an important time for America. Reforms were happening all across the board, affecting workers, African Americans, and children. It was also very crucial for women’s rights – voting rights in particular. This period saw the beginning of the women’s suffrage movement; however, it also marked the start of anti-suffrage. During this time, society was divided with one of the simplest and most complicated questions of the era: what is the proper role of women? In this essay, one will find commonalities as well as differences in how women were expected to behave from the years 1848 to 1910. Many people, both men and women, believed that women’s suffrage wasn’t necessary. Women had a specific role to play, and that role was …show more content…
The fight for women’s rights was not without good cause. Many saw the hypocrisies of allowing all men – even complete buffoons – the right to vote while educated ladies had no say on the ballot. Divorce laws prevent women from splitting from their spouse unless he agreed to do so. In addition, women could not own property or keep their own paychecks if they worked (see Document 1). These problems of hipocrasy were additionally highlighted when people began to see women doing the same exact work as men on farms and in other job areas (see Document 5). They saw no reason to withhold rights from the opposite sex when they did the same things that men did. When some recognized these issues, they sought to fix them and henceforth created a new standard for ladies – a new way to be considered proper. As this era continued, women’s rights were leaps and bounds ahead of where they had previously stood; however, even by 1897 there was still an issue that had to be tackled for the ladies (see Document 6). The right to vote was endlessly sought after since it would be the only way for women to protect their other newly-gained rights. Ladies continued to protest, lobby Congress, and go on hunger strikes to draw attention to and reach their goal. By 1910, women were not quite equal to men, but they were drawing near. Those that believed the sexes deserved equality continued to fight – men and women
However, in both circumstances, women are expected to uphold a certain image, in which is defined by who? Males. In America, women fought for equal rights during the Women’s Suffrage Movement, which first began in 1848, it wasn’t until 1920 that women got what they were longing for. Throughout history, women have fought their way through social
Women suffrage was a prominent issue during the 18th century. Before the issue arose, women had very typical characteristics and roles in society. They mostly stayed home and cared for their children and completed house work. Moreover, women commonly did not have social and legal rights. Their spouse was considered the brains and wealth of the family.
). It’s crazy what woman has to go threw just to vote or just be a woman with a voice in America. In this time woman had to stand up for themselves and take control or then men would still control us. Woman’s right vote was passed June 4 1919, certain groups of people including African Americans and woman they didn’t have the right to vote this lasted over nineteenth and early twentieth century. As the movement got worst, others started speaking up, including Susan B. Anthony she played a big role in the woman suffrage movement.
After the deaths of many of the women’s rights activists from the older generation, younger leaders began to take charge, and they often aligned themselves with the Progressives. During this time, women’s roles were viewed as homemakers, so many of the Progressive women defended their reform actions as an extension of the traditional role of women. Among, the many values held for many decades by these reformers was the right to vote for women. In her piece, “Why Women Should Vote”, Jane Adams argued how women needed this right “in order to preserve the home,” (Doc C). These views developed into the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, which gave women the right to vote.
The women began to increase movement towards their rights but unfortunately, the Civil Rights began and they failed. Women were only seen as only housewives which consisted of them just taking care of their kids and the house. Many women and several men gathered together in New York to speak about the problems they had with women’s rights and to see what they could do to change them. According to the Declaration of Sentiments, “That all men and women are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” This was said because they wanted the women to have the right to vote.
The question of a woman’s role in society is one that has grown increasingly prominent in the modern world. It is difficult to pinpoint exactly when this question began to arise – one could say during the second Great Awakening, when women became increasingly more involved in religion, or at the women’s rights convention in 1848 in Seneca Falls, New York (Bailey, 208). For several centuries as a result of ignorance and misunderstanding, women were seen as inferior to men. They were expected to marry, obey their husbands without hesitation, and to live a quiet life in the confines of their home, rearing children and supporting their husbands. However, during the nineteenth century, the movement for women’s rights began to spread across
This essay will examine women's suffrage and feminism in America during 1820-1877, and one of the women who had played an immense role in the woman's suffrage movements is Susan B. Anthony. How Susan B. Anthony became a focus topic was through research of powerful women in the 1800’s. There is an abundance of powerful and extraordinary women in America, and someone with significance had to be selected. A feminist and someone who believes in women's rights, their right to vote and equality among the genders, Susan B. Anthony is the person.
The assumptions/stereotypes made about women were as if women were maids, powerless, and uneducated people. The nature of women has been judged constantly over the years. Women’s decision such as; the usage of birth control, the decision of abortion, and even women’s right to go to school or work has been judged. During the years of 1890-1925, the men thought of themselves as superior. Men also seen women as inferior to them, physically.
After the women’s right movement began, the hope that women would be treated equal and that they would have the right to vote began to come true. The only problem was that their society was a male dominated world, and men believe that a woman's goal in life was to become a perfect housewife. Before the women’s right movement, women could had never imagine a world where they would be treated equal and that they could vote and that they could one day change the
In general, from 1884 to the 1920s women worked so hard to achieve women 's rights. Women have always been looked down upon by different groups within society. From the early times women have been viewed as weak figures. As recently as the early 1900’s women were unable to work in professional fields such as business and medicine. This resulted in women being unable to advance financially in society and being dependent on their husbands.
The fight for women’s suffrage saw changes in tactics and sentiments as it drew out over the course of nearly 100 years. Increasingly well educated young women were better able to strategize and “fight back” against the anti-suffragists, in the political and print-media propaganda arenas. Women were willing to put their health and well-being on the line as they implemented increasingly aggressive protest tactics in the drive to become a relevant political force. As women’s gender roles continued to be challenged and changed, so did the traditional view of sexuality and gender among women. Many women became empowered and formed long-term,
“Deep cultural beliefs in male/female differences in attitudes and abilities supported this situation and giving the women the vote posed a direct threat to male powers and privileges” (Cooney Robert Taking a New Look - The Enduring Significance of the American Woman Suffrage Movement). Some groups of activists and reformers were against
The article argues that the women’s suffrage movement brought about significant change in women’s roles and rights in society. Frost notes that the suffrage movement helped to raise awareness about women’s issues, and that it paved the way for other feminist movements in the 20th century. Frost also notes that the suffrage movement helped to challenge the notion that women were inferior to men, and that it helped to promote gender equality in
To what extent were changing attitudes in British society the major reason why some women received the vote in 1918? In the middle of the C19th, women were seen as equivalent to their children in the eyes of the law and ruling men. As a result, they were denied the vote in 1867 and 1884 even as more men were enfranchised. However, by 1918 some women had gained the right to vote in national elections, an issue that was partly due to attitudes towards women having been changed drastically throughout the period.
Without masculine direction or control, she is out of her element and a social anomaly -- sometimes a hideous monster.” The awakening of the lack of Women’s Rights was not only due to the obvious absence of their presence in any historically important political effort, but also by the courageous women of Texas who formed suffrage organizations. With little to no support from their fellow Americans, these women formed organizations that would invoke patriotism and the idea of equality. The results however lengthy and time consuming were dramatic.