...1. American women’s history has been on a rollercoaster ride since 1877. While American women’s history has experienced numerous themes or ideas, two that have been consistent throughout history is that of women’s rights, which encompasses the second theme of gender roles. From the beginning of this course, we have studied and read about gender and the roles that society believes the different sexes to be responsible for. Since the beginning, women were not granted or afforded a life independent from their spouse or significant other. They were considered property of their spouse, allowing them to do with as they please. Women were seen as inferior to men and were denied the same luxuries as men. Societal beliefs were that a woman’s role was as the homemaker. She was responsible for taking care of the home and children and keeping things in order for her spouse, who was the party responsible for financially caring for the family. It was thought that if women were afforded male luxuries, such as voting, gender roles in the home would change, something that males did not want to see happen. When the National American Women’s Suffrage Association formed in the 1890s, women lacked many of the rights that men had and were fighting to obtain voting rights equal to that of men. These rights would be the first step in gaining equality for women. This was the beginning of what would pave the way for the great women’s movement and what we know as the Equal Rights Amendment today. Gender...
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...The History of Women HIS 204 American History Since 1865 The History of Women What would the world be if not for the powerful women who have helped to guide the path of women’s rights in the nation? Would women enjoy the same freedoms or would women still be prisoners to the home? Thankfully women don’t need to spend much time contemplating this as we did have strong, powerful women that fought for women’s rights for centuries. Women encouraged other women to fight for equality, fight for freedom, fight for the opportunity to be a strong independent woman in a nation of strong independent men. This paper will discuss several significant events that shaped the future for women in America. Events driven by women that wanted their voices to be heard through a sea of men, women that wanted men to realize that women had a lot to offer this world we live in. The first event this paper will discuss is the American Equal Rights Association started in 1866 by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. This association would shine a light on women’s suffrage in the nation and later inspire a more radical group called The National Woman Suffrage Association. World War I was another event that that the shaped the future for women in America and around the world. Women left their homes to become nurses that would care for wounded soldiers around the world. Another event is the passage of the 19th amendment in 1920. The 19th amendment gave women a voice in elections throughout...
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...would the world be if not for the powerful women who have helped to guide the path of women’s rights in the nation? Would women enjoy the same freedoms or would women still be prisoners to the home? Thankfully women don’t need to spend much time contemplating this as we did have strong, powerful women that fought for women’s rights for centuries. Women encouraged other women to fight for equality, fight for freedom, fight for the opportunity to be a strong independent woman in a nation of strong independent men. This paper will discuss several significant events that shaped the future for women in America. Events driven by women that wanted their voices to be heard through a sea of men, women that wanted men to realize that women had a lot to offer this world we live in. The first event this paper will discuss is the American Equal Rights Association started in 1866 by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. This association would shine a light on women’s suffrage in the nation and later inspire a more radical group called The National Woman Suffrage Association. World War I was another event that that the shaped the future for women in America and around the world. Women left their homes to become nurses that would care for wounded soldiers around the world. Another event is the passage of the 19th amendment in 1920. The 19th amendment gave women a voice in elections throughout the country. Their votes would now count alongside the men’s to shape the nation. As years...
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...The Women’s Rights Movement: Women’s Suffrage Jamuel Breeze Old Dominion University Abstract Women’s history is still being reclaimed. Women played critical roles in the twentieth-century American life. Women were workers, artists, parents, and women offered in many forms energies, insights, and strengths in periods of crisis and prosperity. Our forefathers wrote that all men were created equal, but growing up as a females has never been easy. When children are young there are not many differences between boys and girls, but as life continues things change. When young girls grow to become women they face discrimination, from the onset, as opposed to their male counterparts. This discrimination comes from society, and can even come from within their household from parents, siblings, and other family members. Women were viewed as only suitable for domestic works and were not given opportunities for advancement nor knowledge of other skills and trades. This essay will cover the route that women took in order to become equal; The Women’s Rights Movement, but more specifically focus on Women’s Suffrage. The Women’s Rights Movement Women’s rights movements are primarily concerned with making the political, social, and economic status of women equal to that of men while establishing legislative safeguards against discrimination on the basis of sex. The Women’s Right Movement began in 1848 with the first women’s rights convention being held in Seneca Falls, New York. Elizabeth...
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...History’s Influence on Women History has cultivated and paved the way for women and their rights, since the mid 1800s, and now in 2014. Presently women have more rights and nearing equality each day, thanks to the fights in early American History. Although women currently are still struggling with equality in the United States, history has opened the door has lead the cause for change and the women’s rights movement. Women had to fight through difficult times to get through discrimination in the 19th century. In the past, women did not have the rights and freedoms as most men and were treated harshly. Women had almost no rights at all. They were not allowed to vote, they could not hold a place in public offices, were not equal or have the same opportunities as men. As a result, women were often seen as homemakers, nothing else. Women were looked down upon, if they expressed their voices or sot after equality or opportunities that often men would. Women were inferior to men in many different ways. Women did not have any property rights and once she was married, she was no longer allowed to own any land or property. A man could sell his house and take all the money for himself, and leave his wife and child behind with nothing. During this time, women were often seen as nonexistent people, they were not recognized as people. Nor where they recognized by the government equally. The women’s rights movement helped them throughout the country by passing laws that would entitle...
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...Contrary to the popular belief of men contributing the biggest part to the American Revolution, women have made significant impact in our history as well. Unfortunately, most of our history books minimize the impact of women on our history, and when it is mentioned, it is often belittles or even romanticized through the authors eyes. Carol Berkin attempts to portray a more accurate representation of these influences in her book Revolutionary Mothers, Women in the Struggle for American Independence. Berkin discusses the Colonial white women, Native American, and African American women and how they have helped to construct and shape our history. By basing her position in this book on the various socioeconomic statuses such as the high and low classes, as well as those who supported Loyalist and Patriotic causes during this lengthy battle for Americas Independence. Overall, Berkin has constructed a piece of literature that attempts to depict the real influence of both average common folks as well as famous women have had in our history and how they were affected by the Revolutionary war. By using many different sources and numerous footnotes throughout her 120 page book , Berkin defends her stance on the roles of many women throughout history and their influences. Berkin position is backed up by using diaries from numerous women written during the days of the Revolution, memoirs, legal opinions, law books as well as news paper articles. Also to discredit any other possible...
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...Women’s Roles in the Nineteenth Century: Invisibility and Visibility In nineteenth century, women in the United States were expected to fill the separate sphere of civilization. They were most likely living their lives mainly as caregivers and homemakers, whereas men were expected to live a public life and work in a factory and became a primary breadwinner in a household. Due to these traditional expectations for women in the nineteenth century, only a handful of women had the opportunities for higher education as men. Women had fought for equal rights and opportunities with men throughout the nineteenth and twentieth century. It had been long journey and a painful struggle for the females. Some groups often seen educated women as rebellious...
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...recognized as a women's rights activist and remembered for her role in women's suffrage. Susan B. Anthony was born on February 15, 1820, near Adams, Massachusetts to Daniel Anthony and Lucy Anthony (National Women’s History Museum, part 1). Susan was the second oldest of eight children as her parents owned a local cotton mill (Biography par.2). Although only five of Anthony’s siblings lived to be adults, one child was stillborn, and another died at age 2 (Biography par.2). In the 1840s, Anthony's family became involved in the fight to end slavery, also known as the abolitionist movement. Anthony’s Rochester farm served as a meeting place for famed abolitionists, such as Frederick Douglass (Biography par.6)....
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...The Family Sphere: The Changing Role of Women in the Home HIS 310 American Women's History Instructor: Dr. Cheryl Lemus April 18, 2016 Dr. Barbara Welter penned an influential article in 1966 titled “The Cult of True Womanhood: 1820–1860” which shed light on the often restrictive family sphere of existence within which, most American women throughout history had dwelt. According to Welter, true womanhood held that women were designed exclusively for the roles of wife and mother and were expected to cultivate Piety, Purity, Submissiveness, and Domesticity in all their relations (para.2). The Cult of True Womanhood, the idealized sainted mother, unconditional devotee of her husband and children, and the core power within the home still exists in the minds of many American men and women and seems to be an intrinsic part of our shared history. The ideal of the sphere of the American women and her relationship to the family evolved as the colonization of the United States evolved. When the first settlers arrived, women held a much more equitable role, laboring alongside the men to establish the country’s first settlements. As the initial settlements grew, the women who had proved vital in their creation were expected to lay down their hammers and saws and return to the family sphere. The supposition being that the return of the American woman to the family sphere was a returning to of them to their natural roles. She would leave the public sphere and revert to the more domestic...
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...Women’s Role (1865-Present) Kimberly Burrows HIS 204 Joseph Scahill February 2, 2013 Women’s Role (1865-Present) Throughout history, women have suffered fewer rights then men and are discriminated against because of their gender. Historically, a woman’s main role was to tend to the home isolated in the domestic “bubble” and to raise their children while their husbands were away at work. In this paper, I will describe the historical significance of this issue from 1865 to the present. I will explain the historical developments that presented new opportunities for women in society. I will discuss the main individuals that were involved in these struggles. To conclude, I will analyze ways in which it contributed to an “ending of isolation” while assessing the challenges involved. Even today, women still face discrimination based on their gender. However, the role of women has changed significantly which has created a lasting and ongoing increase of women's rights. The woman’s role presents a historical significance from 1865 to today for many reasons. Prior to the Civil War, women were perceived as the weaker sex and were considered intellectually inferior to men. Their freedom was limited and they had fewer rights than men. Women were expected to marry, care for their home, cook, make clothing and raise their children. According to Manning, M. J. (2005), “Women were viewed as wives and mothers, whose economic rights were mainly to be supported by a male breadwinner and...
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...figures before, during, and after the American revolution. Respectively, Woody Holton and Gordon S. Wood present unique aspects of Abigail Adams and Benjamin Franklin which highlight societal, institutional, and ideological changes brought about by the American revolution. Holton’s depiction of Abigail Adams provides an in depth analysis of the challenges she faces as a wife who assumes the roles typically undertaken by the family patriarch. In wood’s book, the depiction of Benjamin Franklin allows the reader to understand the progressive development of Franklin as he transitions from a gentleman to an ardent revolutionary. An interesting aspect of Wood’s portrayal of Franklin resides in his detailed analyses of his contributions to the American Revolution and the generally negative reception he receives upon returning to the independent colonies. Both Wood and Holton chose these individuals, and specifically the overriding topics of each book, in order to explain these chosen themes through the perspective of well-known historical figures. Although both authors make interesting arguments, Holton’s research on Abigail Adams presents a more significant contribution to historical research by highlighting her contribution to women’s rights and feminism. Woody Holton’s work, Abigail Adams (2009) tells the story of the wife of John Adams before, during, and after the American Revolution. Holton’s depiction of Abigail’s life prior to the American Revolution consists of her childhood...
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...Advancement of Women Through History Women’s Rights have grown stronger through the years. Women have gone from being seen and not heard to having a voice, supporting war multiple war efforts, and becoming politicians. In the landmark case of Roe verses Wade gave women the right to own their own body with the decision of whether or not to have an abortion. Women were battling for equality as well as the right to vote. This suffrage was a long drawn out battle through the years but finally was won. Women’s roles during all three wars, the Spanish American War, World War I, and World War II, included nurses, clerical positions, and they back filled spouse’s duties at home. A “New Woman came about in the 1920s as women changed their attitude along with hair, make-up and attitude. All of the progressions were won due to persistence. Women have played a significant throughout the wars in America, not just stateside but abroad. “The Spanish-American War created a substantial need for military nurses” (Small, 1998). Dr Anita Newcomb McGee became the nurse’s bureau chief. This was the first time contract nurses were hired to in military hospital. In September 1918, 1,100 nurses were serving in the United and overseas. During World War I women were allowed to serve in non-nursing positions performing clerical duties. 34,000 women served in the military and 10,000 served as nurses in World War I. During World War II nearly 350, 000 American women served in uniform, both...
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...Thankful for the Women of Our Past The American Women started out as the basic homemaker since coming to the New World. They were seen as nothing but a person that should stay home with the children, tend to the land and their husbands. As the world began to change, so did the view point and the rights of women. This change did not happen overnight and it was not an easy battle. The women of our past paved the road so that the women today can play a major role in the military, politics and on the home front of America. The first battle for women’s rights came in the mid to late 1800’s, prior to the Civil War at the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848. The movement came to a sudden halt, just as it started to begin, due to the Civil War. In 1869 the proposed 15th Amendment, which gave black men the right to vote, fueled the women’s right movement even more (Bowles 2011). Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton played a major role in the early part of this movement. In May 1869, the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA) was formed by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton; an organization made up primarily of women. Their object was to secure an amendment to the Constitution in favor of women's suffrage, and they opposed passage of the Fifteenth Amendment unless it was changed to guarantee to women the right to vote. They continued work on The Revolution which included radical feminist challenges to traditional female roles (Ward 1999). Lucy Stone reorganized...
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...important time in American History. No decade saw as much change in regards to the role of women in society as the roaring twenties. Men and women each have a unique role in society, and likewise also share many roles equally. Up until this point in American History women were oppressed by a male dominated society and intern were not given the rights, respect, and freedom they deserved. The 1920’s marked the beginning of a great event in which women began stepping up and having a voice. It was a time of liberation for most women. One part of this liberation included the Flapper lifestyle. This lifestyle, not only helped change the role of women outside of the home, but also affected the female influence in politics. The Flapper Lifestyle was a trend that took America by...
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...Running head: WOMEN'S RIGHTS, THE STRUGGLE IS FAR FROM OVER. Women's Rights, The Struggle Is Far From Over. Gerald Lee Ashford University American History Since 1865 HIS204 Gregory Lawson May 13, 2012 Women's Rights, The Struggle Is Far From Over. During the course of history, women have always fought to improve esteem, equivalence, and to have equal rights as men. Nevertheless, this mission has been challenging because of the notion in which men are higher to and have the right to rule over women. This way of life has saturated the societal construction of civilizations all the way through since the creation of man. The free-for-all of women rights was even more problematic for women. Wifehood and parenthood were considered to be the women's most important jobs. In the 20th era, however, women in some countries won the right to vote and improved their educational and job opportunities. Conceivably most significant, they took an enormous step by changing everyone’s thinking of the customary visions of their roles in society. This value has drenched the social structure of societies throughout the world. Even in today’s times, women are still struggling for rights that men take for granted. The struggle of women rights was even more problematic for women of color because not only did they have to deal with issues of sexism. They also had to deal with discrimination. The first known women’s right conference was held in Seneca Falls, New...
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