The History of Women in Society

The development and advancement of women in society have not always been as accepted as it is in today’s world. Women have endured many struggles and oppressiveness in order to stand tall as we do in this moment and in today’s society many things are taken for granted that women before us only wished to have. At one point in time women were not even recognized as to have their own mind and a right to their own thoughts.

In the beginning of our journey going back as far as 1868 this was a time where women were considered second class citizens along side of African Americans. With the upcoming reconstruction of government rule led by Ulysses S. Grant women attempted to become legal voters after the African Americans were allowed to vote.(Davidson, 2008, pg. 487).

With this liberation beginning in 1869, two women by the name of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony created a group named the Women’s Loyal League in which they advocated for women to be recognized under the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments. The fifteenth amendment allowed for the explosion of the feminist movement. For many years Stanton and Anthony fought for women’s rights which birthed the creation of American Woman Suffrage Association that fought for women to vote on their own ballots (Davidson, 2008, pg. 487). This was a battle that lingered over the heads of women for many years and the fight was long and tiresome. These are moments that women could not even imagine in our current world where they have free choice.

Through the struggle of equal rights women began to labor outside of the home and their family farms by 1870. Although they performed the same duties as the male counterpart they were compensated half of what men earned. These working women were usually single and young, many of them lived in boarding houses or at home with their parents, this lifestyle diminished upon marriage where they usually became a housewife, mother, and lived with their new husband (Davidson, 2008, pg. 558). By the 1900’s only five percent of married women worked outside the home of those black women were of the majority due to the low wages their husbands earned. Typical jobs for women at this time were food processing, textiles, clothing and cigar making(Davidson, 2008, pg. 558). Today women have the opportunity to further their knowledge and careers and are not limited to these low paying and no brain jobs.

The new approach of employment began to sprout from the ordinary work women were accustomed to and these new positions consisted of typewriters, telephone answerers, bookkeepers, and secretaries. On rare occasions women entered into law or medical positions in which they were not welcomed and in some cases were not allowed(Davidson, 2008, pg. 559). By women continuing to battle for their rights eventually allowed women today to be in those medical and law positions where in the 1800-1900’s women only dreamed of these positions.

The expanding firm stance women were beginning to take soon pushed men into management positions allowing women to slip into more favorable positions which laid the foundation for women in the work world today(Davidson, 2008, pg. 558). This was the start of a great debate because women still received less than average wages.

In the late 1800’s women were classified by the home that they kept. The image to uphold was of the middle-class lifestyle, this left women to create elaborate meals, clean houses and laundry and tailor clothing. These choirs took relentless hours to sustain such households and image. In order to maintain this lifestyle one usually required the need of help, therefore, one would hire assistance which allowed some women to find work in these homes. These servants were on call about 100 hours a week, off one evening and part of Sunday while earning $2 to $5 week (Davidson, 2008, pg. 582).

A sigh of relieve and a wipe of the brow when finally announced in 1890 the inventions of some household products to alleviate laboring work. Many things like processed foods and appliances such as “self working” washing machines. With the creation of these items it allowed American households the freedom to use Saturdays as more of a family day rather than a work day, needing less hours for tedious chores(Davidson, 2008, pg. 582).

Middle class women had an image to uphold not only in their homes but also their dress attire. Women were used at this time as sexual slaves by their husbands only to reproduce and not for their own pleasure. As a way to show off their sexuality as well as financial status women dressed in a Victorian style. This style of clothing shaped a women’s body into the shape of a wasp with the corset worn around the waist. These corsets were laced up tightly in some cases breaking ribs, pressing organs against one another, and causing sagging uteruses. Although women showed their beauty on the outside this was very risky to their insides, pushing breast up and bottoms out and constricting everything in between, is this beauty or punishment(Davidson, 2008, pg. 583)?

Women continued to push the limit toward equality and this included education. By 1910 approximately forty percent of college students were woman and only one in five colleges refused to enroll women(Davidson, 2008, pg. 587). The ability to further their education created a new women and views upon their family role resulting in less married and more self supporting woman. More of these women discarded their Victorian values and style and adopted a more comfortable attire. This is including “shirtwaist” blouses and lowered-heeled shoes (Davidson, 2008, pg. 587).

The mid 1890’s produced one of the many depressions which empowered women to search for work outside of the home. This was perfect timing for the “New Woman” to demand the right to vote and to stand equal with men. Although these events were not a warm feeling for men as they felt impressed upon and worried if they would be able to provide for their families(Davidson, 2008, pg. 630).

The turn of events further empowered women as they created organizations for women to join and fellowship with others. Women created in the nineteenth century approximately 500 clubs with over 160,000 members which summoned the creation of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. Through the club these organizations assisted in funding libraries, hospitals, schools, settlement houses, compulsory education, and child labor laws(Davidson, 2008, pg. 639).

Although progressing through an oppressive time there were still restrictions placed on women who began to push women out of powerful positions. Still striving for fulfilling positions women were less likely to marry and were better educated then the generation before. Even though women persisted in medicine and law they tended to stick with traditional roles in nursing, library work, and teaching(Davidson, 2008, pg. 639).

Even during the struggle of recognition still lay a larger problem and that is the need for birth control. Women during this time were not able to control pregnancy which created many unwanted children. Not having control over ones body contributed to numerous deaths due to at home abortions performed on them to rid themselves of these unwanted births. Events as such was in need of an advocate to educate Americans on how to protect themselves from unwanted life. This sparked the attention of Margaret Sanger whom vowed to educate women on their bodies and how to protect them(Davidson, 2008, pg. 639). By providing education and awareness of controlling pregnancy women felt less guilt about sexual enjoyment and worried less of the consequences(Davidson, 2008, pg. 699).

The most important battle of them all still went on as women protested in front of the White House beginning on January 10, 1917. Women were not giving up on what they felt was their right just as much as anyone else’s right; and that was to vote as an American citizen. The Progressives saw it to be beneficial for women to vote as it would lessen political corruption, protect the home and increase the native white vote(Davidson, 2008, pg. 640).

Hallelujah the day has come. Wyoming becoming the first state to recognize women suffrage in 1869(McCammon, Campbell, Granberg and Mowery, 2001), as a result women began to have the right to vote, following Wyoming in the liberating moment 10 western states and Kansas honoring women’s rights which began to take place in 1914. Eventually after finalizing World War I and attentions were now back on American issues the decisions made earlier in the western states struck other countries to join in beginning with Great Britain granting women over the age of 30 the right to vote in 1918, Germany and Austria in 1919, and the United States in 1920. This action was allowable under the rights given through the Nineteenth Amendment that did not allow discrimination due to race, color, or creed.

After to war produced ultimate freedom for women although in some way still oppressed but the war assisted women in working away from home in jobs they may have never had the opportunity to serve without the masses of men being sent to war. Women were able to work outside the home which in most cases were needed to support the family that men left behind. In 1917 guidelines to protect women in laborious positions birthed through the Labor Department was the Women in Industry Service. This organization regulated the work hours of women and limited their work day to 8 hours and mandated breaks for meals and equal pay (Davidson, 2008, pg. 676).

Women herded ahead for equal rights and left behind old ways of thinking, living, and dressing. Blossoming from their Victorian constricted waists women began to feel the freedom of expression and the flapper was born. These women wore close-fitting hats and makeup, long-waisted dresses and few undergarments, strings of beads and unbuckled galoshes hence giving them the name. A symbol of liberation and freedom allowed women to openly join the work force which eventually began to change societies view on women and their role(Davidson, 2008, pg. 699).

As this change was evolving women began to vote and advocating for woman’s issues was Eleanor Roosevelt and Frances Perkins. Woman played a valuable role in the Roosevelt campaign(Davidson, 2008, pg. 748). Following the stand taken by women and supported by the Roosevelt era came World War II which further encouraged the rights of women.

World War II revolved to allow women to serve for the US military in their own branch. They joined the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps which allowed women to join with inferior status and pay. By 1943 woman were treated equal except for being allowed to go to war zones until 1944. Most of the women’s posts were behind barbed wire and could only move in groups under the supervision of an armed guard (Davidson, 2008, pg. 775).

One very harsh truth about the Second World War was women were not only used as replacements for men in the workplace but Japanese women were placed in brothels for the soldiers to use as sex slaves. The women were referred to as “comfort women” and their only purpose was for the soldiers pleasure while not even owning the own right to their bodies. So during this period where American women were beginning to feel a sort of liberation this was not the story of all women(Oh & Stetz, 2000).

The second war further contributed to women’s liberation continuing to allow them into the workplace and into traditionally male positions. This allowed women to help with the economical status of the US as well as their status in their own homes. By learning skills not traditionally known to women stereotypes of women’s abilities changed (Davidson, 2008, pg. 779).

While earning a living for their families women began to realize that two incomes in the home allowed for extra spending and financial freedom. In a 20 year period women working outside the home doubled from 15 to 30 percent. All women from all financial statuses worked none more than others; some worked to provide for the family while others just enjoyed more money. Working away from home allowed women to find social connections as well as fulfillment with their lives although in society women were portrayed as sex objects or domesticated housewives and mothers(Davidson, 2008, pg. 833-834).

By the 1960’s women’s equality pushed for a feminist movement that had the nation in an uproar. Although women had not just began fighting for their spot in society it became a force to be reckoned with(Ferree & Martin, 1990). Women had been allowed to vote in the 1920’s as well as allowed into the workforce due to men fighting in the two world wars but women demanded more. Still being portrayed as housewives and sexual toys yet ignoring the fact of an independent person able to receive equal treatment and benefits as men, women continued to push the limits of the American government. Designated by President Kennedy in 1963 The Commission on the Status of Women proposed the Equal Pay Act which requested the removal of all discrimination including gender from the Civil Rights Act which would allow women of the workplace fair treatment(Davidson, 2008, pg.906).

Other organizations were created for women’s benefit in this fight that continued on for some years; women just wanted a voice and to make law makers aware that the treatment that they received was no different from the discrimination that African American’s endured for years. These organizations fought for women’s rights in the workplace to have maternity leave and other family assistance. By 1973 inRoe vs. Wade the Supreme Court announced a women’s right to abortion(Davidson, 2008, pg. 906). Over 15 years later, the abortion issue remains the most contentious and most unresolved issue of our age(Faux, M.,1988).

Even though American Women take for granted the rights that many died for the struggle is evident and painstaking. As Bill Clinton once said during his 1992 election campaign “Building up women does not diminish men” (Davidson, 2008, pg. 968); unfortunately it took many years for the American people to see this simple fact.

References:

Davidson, J.W., DeLay, B., Heyrman, C.L., Lytle, M.H. & Stoff, M.B. 2008. Nation of Nations: A Narrative History of the AmericanRepublic, Since 1865 (6^th. Ed. Vol. II). New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Faux, M. 1988. Roe v. Wade: the untold story of the landmark Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal. New York, New York, Macmillan Publishing Company.

Ferree, M.M. & Martin, P.Y. 1990. Feminists Organizations: Harvest of the New Women’s Movement. Philadelphia: TempleUniversity Press.

McCammon, H.J., Campbell, K.E., Granberg, E.M., and Christine Mowery. 2001. How Movements Win: Gendered Opportunity Structures and U.S. Women's Suffrage Movements, 1866 to 1919,

Oh, B.B.C &Stetz, M.D. 2000. Legacies of Comfort Women in World War II. New York: M.E. Sharpe.