American Women In The 19th Century

The American woman has endured more hardship, discrimination, and abuse then anyone could image. From the revolution to the Great Depression women encountered more battles with men over religion, politics, jobs, equal pay, and finally the victory for the right to vote. The newer generation of young women would usher in an entirely different request. Many things were forbidden, unheard of and even unthinkable in the 19th century. The twenty century woman were no longer fighting for voting rights but rather declaring a new way of life, freedom without boundaries. Freedom to dance, shorter skirts, freedom to date without committing to marriage and leisurely using birth control. This new found freedom would come in the form of sexual liberty
Women that engaged in same sex relationships were considered lesbians and apparent a heterosexual relationship wasn’t the desire for all women. For instance, Jane Addams, an icon in the women movement never married but had a long term love relationship with Mary Rozet Smith. According to Evans, “within the subculture built on women’s domestic identities powerful emotional and sensual relationships among women were the rule rather than the exception.” (Evans,
The twenties brought freedom for the Mexican American woman also. This was the age of the flapper. Evans describes the flapper, “the sensuality of the flappers marked a powerful current of behavioral and ideological changes in American culture.” (Evans, 176) While White American young women saw the opportunity to be free, to experiment, and indulge their mother’s had no problem with it; as a matter of fact, Evans directs us to the reason why: ‘I like the jazz generation”, said Zelda Fitzgerald in 1924, “and I hope my daughter’s generation will be jazzier. I want my girl to do as she pleases, be what she pleases regardless of Mrs. Grundy.” (Evans, 175) In contrast, Mexican American young women wanted this same freedom but the scenario was just the opposite. Mexican American young women were in a culture where the reins were lifted, but their mothers were very keen about the era and kept close tabs on their daughters. While White American mothers wanted their daughters to be enlightened by all life could offer, whether good or bad. Mexican American mothers would be right by their daughter’s side watching every move they made. Mexican American young women mother’s chaperoned their daughter’s outings to ensure they did not step out of order. According to Ruiz, “Chaperonage existed for centuries on both sides of the political border separating Mexico and the United States. While conjuring