The Women's Rights Movement

1893 Words8 Pages

The Women’s Right Movement changed the lives of the American Women for the better, due to gaining the right to vote, access to higher education, and the opportunity to enter the workforce. Before the reform movements of Women’s right, the American women were discriminated in society, home life, education, and the workforce. Women in the 1800s could not only vote, but they also were forbidden to speak in public. They were voiceless and had no self-confidence, they dependent men, since they had little to no rights (Bonnie and Ruthsdotter). Before the reform movement, the American Women were voiceless, they had no say in society, however the reform movement will soon change that. Married women had no very little rights compared to husband, one …show more content…

In the law, married women were legally dead in its eyes.There were state property laws that prevented married women from having any right. Such as anything they owed were their husbands now, anything to do with earning or receiving money, that money went to their husband (Bonnie and Ruthsdotter). Besides from having no right in society, women also had many limitations on education and the workforce. Women were not allowed to enter many professions including medicine and law. Girls were not given a formal education, and if they wanted to enter a higher education, such as college they would be rejected. Colleges at this time did not accept female students. The view in society of a women's education included learning to cook, clean, and take of the children. During the mid-1800s, more and more women became involved with reform movements from abolishment and the temperance movement. The American women finally thought they would be able do some good, outside of their homes. Yet they were mistaken, similar to their everyday, their roles in the movements were limited and restricted. However, even as women began to become more …show more content…

Throughout early history, girls received very few educational opportunities, in society learning was secondary. The idea of a female attending school, especially higher education was backlashes with hostile attitudes (Women in America). Men are viewed themselves as not only superior, but also smarter. From the 17th-19th centuries, women's brains were thought to be smaller than those of men, which is why people thought that women could not learn courses such as science of math. Emma Willard opened a seminary for girls, in Troy, New York, in 1821. Her teaching methods were similar to ones used in the boys' schools, which horrified the parents. Yet clearly parents' disapproval did not stop the girls from wanting an education since from 1821-1872, 12,000 girls attended Willard’s school (Women in America). Once given the chance of an education, many of her students even went on to start their own schools. Yet after that, their was right to a higher education, such as a college. Girls were finally able the opportunity to attend college due to Oberlin college who opened their doors to become the first coeducational college in 1837 (Women in America). However, even though colleges were beginning to open up to all genders, getting into these schools was another story. Consequently qualified

Open Document