Women In The Civil War Essay

Women in the American Civil War: A Glance into Role Evolution and War Participation Gender equality for women has become a prominent issue in American society in recent years but is not a new idea. The concept and struggle for equality, both of race and gender, go back to early periods of American history, many of which are characterized by struggle and development. A common example of this is the Civil War time period in America’s history. With many complex and intricate struggles as well as demands making up the war, many changes were made in the post-war period, including the role of women and the civil rights they believed in. Due to the developing nature of America in the Civil War time period, women’s rights and responsibilities were
Both Northern and Southern women took on the role of nursing in the war; however, more Southern women became nurses than the former due to geographical distances (discussed later, see p.7). The ideal image of a nurse in the Civil War started with a middle-aged woman or healthy elderly woman, so as to exclude sexuality and cultivate experience, but grew to include younger women and quite a few women following religious duties (mainly Catholic ‘sisters’) for the duration of the war (Lesniak, 2009, p. 39-40). Each type of nurse had different motivations: fighting for country, fighting for home, and fighting for God – and many found a place under the umbrellas of specific organizations and societies to want to do so. Yet, some were independent and undeclared (Lesniak, 2009, 40). Clara Barton, the most famous unaffiliated nurse in the Civil war who founded the Red Cross, drew inspiration to become a war nurse from her father, who participated in the war (Lesniak, 2009, 40). Finding it difficult to join the army, yet not wanting to be set under a specific nurse organization, Barton sought government influence to allow her to