Dr. Janda
History 1493
April 24, 2017 U.S. History Since 1865
American women from the late 19th Century through the 1970’s fought through discrimination, racism, and sexism. Women struggled to be acknowledged and given the same rights as men. Slowly, through out each century, women’s political, social and legal issues improved, but with challenges. In this essay, I will discuss some of the significant changes that women overcame. During the 19th century women did not have many rights. They were not allowed to vote and they had been not allowed to have active roles in politics or legal issues. After the 13th Amendment was passed in 1865, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton submitted the petition for an amendment to …show more content…
abolish slavery (Norton, 486). Anthony and Stanton were part of the Women’s Loyal National League and they gathered almost a half of a million signatures for their petition. This made an enormous impact and to me it was the start of women fighting for what is right. In 1866, the 14th Amendment stated that voting was strictly for men only and women of any race could not vote. Women advocated and activists decided to end their time with the abolitionist and concentrate on women’s rights. Many men felt that that this was a time to help the freedmen and not woman suffrage (Norton, 479). Finally, there was a glimpse of hope and the 15th Amendment was passed stating that states could not deny the right to vote to any one regardless of their race, or color. This did not mean that everyone could vote though, women and some men could still be denied in the northern states (Norton, 483). Western Expansion brought opportunity and hope for people including women.
Many traveled to the west looking to make more money, and have independence. Women worked doing household duties like cooking, laundry, seamstresses. Some women did venture out to provide sexual services. Women were still struggling and dealing with being underpaid. Women during this period were uneducated and because they were always home maintaining the household duties, they were unskilled. The period between 1880’s and the 1900’s employers started hiring women and children so that they could cut costs because they could pay them much less than the men (Norton, 540). The number of women employees more than tripled. Women were now working more clerical jobs and menial positions. In 1908, there was the Muller vs. Oregon case which made a law stating that women couldn’t work over a certain number of hours because they needed to be home with their children (Norton, 543). This also prevented women from working in high physical demanding jobs. While having a law passed like this is great to make sure women are not overworked, this also shows how the roles of men and women in society and the family life are so different. Women basically must take on more than the men, but are never recognized for this. During the early 1900’s women still battled men. Some women worked in labor unions and the WTUL was founded to help support them in 1903. The WTUL fought for legislation on better hours, …show more content…
working conditions and campaigned for women (Norton, 547).
In the late 1890’s and early 1900’s women started to enroll in colleges and participate in sports like swimming, track and baseball. Live Entertainment grew and show business became popular. Show business gave women jobs, but they were often exploited by the males. Women slowly were more involved with the community, attending college and developing organizations to help fight woman suffrage. The NWSA and AWSA were organized, but Congress would never listen to them (Norton, 580). There was a slight improvement between 1870 and 1910 where some states legalized a limited suffrage and some states allowed women to vote on school problems (Norton, 581). Eventually we make it into the progressive era and this was a time for growth. More women enrolled in colleges and there was the Woman Movement. It was time to try and start figuring out what a woman’s role really was. Women clubs were started in the late 19th century. Woman began working doing inspections on factories and regulations. African American women also started their own woman club. With all the growth with women with having clubs and the fight for their rights, it wasn’t enough to make any change. By the time war started in 1914 women could join the Army in the Nurse Corps, and clerks in the Navy and Marines. Women who were home worked in factories to help the labor shortage during the war. By the start of the New era which was the 1920’s to 1929 (Norton, 692), woman suffrage had ended. Women still couldn’t participate in big business things, but they would develop voluntary organizations to help with issues like birth control, educations and getting funds to have maternity and pefiatric clinics(Norton, 607). Women slowly throughout the years make progress, they are able to join the military, work outside of the home, vote for certain things and participate with different organziations.
Then we enter the baby boom period and things change a bit. Post war was during 1945 through 1960 and the troops came home. Marriage rates increased and the birth rate was through the roof(Norton, 839). Since families were growing the women now needed to stay home. When we entered the 1950’s people were getting married younger and families became the main focus. During this period is when I see the biggest change in gender roles. Women before this were trying to do the same things as men, have rights and be independent. They basically take a few steps back. While a good portion of women did work during this time, they were still responsible for the household duties and the children. Women who did work work faced discrimination. There would help wanted signs asking specifically for a male or a female(Norton, 860). The women’s movement had disappeared for a little while but when we reached the 1960’s it returned(Norton, 911). Many things were overcome for women during this period. There was the Roe vs. Wade case that stated that it is the womens choice to end a pregnancy(Norton, 913). Women seemed to always have laws controlling them. The progressive reform allowed sterilization to be forced upon women without their consent and they also faced the issues of birth control. Women
who were unmarried could not have access to birth control. Contraceptives were only for married couples. By the time the 1970’s had been reached there seemed to be progress with women’s rights. The Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964 and Title Seven which banned any discrimination with men and women during the hiring process. Another important victory was when Title Nine was passed which required that there be equal funding and education between men and women(Norton, 889). Throughout the different centuries there was significant change with women’s rights. These changes did not happen easisly or quickly for that matter. Women struggled and fought for their right’s and equality. It seemed that once there was progress, there were also steps taken back. Women never gave up and when the Unites States evolved, women did too. I think that it is important to remember that even though laws and legislations were passed, there are always loop holes and some may not follow these rules or just not agree with them. Women even to this day are not always excepted when it comes to their career choices, education and how they choose to raise their family.