The Woman's Suffrage Movement In The 19th Century

During the mid-19th century, there were organizations made throughout America and Europe on the woman's rights to vote and run for office which was later known as the woman's suffrage. During this time period, only men were sought out as equals and acceptable to vote and/or run for office, whereas women were not viewed as working class citizens. In the middle of the 19th century, there was a demand in woman's equality that became profound and well know as well as continuing to be a transformative history in time and today (Brown, 1993).
Before the woman's suffrage movement, women were not seen as citizens only as housewives who could not claim any money that they have earned or properties if they were married, let alone the right to vote. It wasn't until
1848 in Seneca Falls, New York, where activists such as Susan B.
Anthony, were fighting back to be viewed as equals so that they had the same opportunity a man could have such as better education and employment. Susan B. Anthony, along with other activists such as Lucertia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton had organized the woman's suffrage movement that was later called "Woman's National Loyal League" in 1863. This particular movement was in favor of the 13th amendment, which was to abolish, while also being in supportive of women and blacks. On top of slavery being abolished in 1869, Anthony and Stanton were still rooting for woman's rights that also follow through with changes in divorce law and to end discrimination in both employment and pay (Women's Suffrage Movement, n.d). As WWI began in 1914, some organizations that mainly had women that would take on roles that were suited for men, as to help the war's efforts since the shortage of men were minimum which helped the suffrage movement. Later In 1916, the organization changed its name to "National Woman Suffrage Association" became a more demanding campaign by picketing signs and demonstration in front of the White
House, which they were imprisoned for obstruction. They gained public sympathy during their hunger strikes while being in prison and endured force-feedings for survival. The movement becomes the center of attention finally in 1913, as they strode down Pennsylvania Avenue in parade format that stunned many and showed unfair injustice towards suffragists that unanimously won the vote to ratify the 19th amendment. The 19th amendment states that the states and federal government cannot deny the citizens the right to vote simply because of their sex. It did not give women the benefit of the doubt to have the same equal opportunities that a man would have such as equal pay, and equal opportunities for work and/or education. The women were still not shown as equal civilians. Although, both men and women had felt that full equality was important because it would allow there to be a balance of fairness between both genders if it were to come to employment and pay. Let's say for example there's a man and a woman working in the same industry both performing the same tasks at hand, whether or not it's viewed as a "man's job" to prove masculinity that a woman should be inferior to, they both are able to perform the tasks well and in a timely manner. Why should a woman be paid less than the amount of a man who are both performing the same jobs? That's where full equality comes into play that would allow both parties to be paid equally for the same work duties. As stated before, a woman can do just as much of a man's job than a man himself can do alone.