Preview

Equal Rights for Women Essay Example

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
474 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Equal Rights for Women Essay Example
HUSH Memorization Report
2/24/13

* Shirley Chisholm, Equal Rights for Women * May 21, 1969. Washington, D.C.

Shirley Chisholm was born in 1924 in Brooklyn, New York. She was the first African American to run for president but she was the first African American to be elected to the U.S. Congress. Chisholm was a strong supporter of equal rights for women and delivered her speech, “Equal Rights for Women,” in Washington, D.C. on May 21st, 1969. Chisholm was outspoken on issues in America’s society; such as, women’s issues and the discrimination of blacks and women. In her speech, “Equal Rights for Women,” she remarked that she had experienced much more discrimination as a woman than an African American. Shirley pushed for the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. constitution because she wanted to insure women their rights in society and increase their roles in society as well.
“Equal Rights for Women” by Shirley Chisholm is personally significant to me because Chisholm fought for the rights of women in the 20th century and worked to increase their role in society. Today, we women would not have as many rights and opportunities that we do now if someone did not fight for us in the past as Chisholm and many others before us did. Although there is some discrimination involving women today, it is surely not as bad as it was just about 45 years ago. In earlier times, women fought for their rights but now, we don’t have to fight for our rights simply because women like Shirley Chisholm worked to give us our rights we have today and increase our roles in society.

The unspoken assumption is that women are different. They do not have executive ability, orderly minds, stability, leadership skills, and they are too emotional. It has been observed that society discriminated against another minority, the blacks, on the same basis for a long time - that they were different and that they were inferior. As a black person, I am no stranger to race prejudice. But the truth is

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Shirley Chisholm first became active in politics in 1968 when she became the first African American to be elected in congress. She represented the New York State in the U.S. House of Representatives for seven terms. During her time, she focused on things such as education and social justice. She also helped form a black political organization known as the Black Caucus. She was also known for being the first African American woman to run for the Democratic presidency in 1972. Even though she was unsuccessful at winning the presidential election, she made history.…

    • 390 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Shirley Chisholm was born November 30,1924. She was born in Brooklyn,New York. She was the first African American congresswoman in 1968. She represented New York State in the U.S House of Representatives for seven terms. Shirley Chisholm ran for Democratic nomination for the presidency in 1972. One major accomplishment was a financial aid program known as Search for Elevation, Education and Knowledge also know as SEEK. This passed into a law in 1965. Seek then reached out to students of color. This was offered to students lacked the necessary academic requirements for state universities.…

    • 373 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The Life of Shirley Chisholm

    • 3452 Words
    • 14 Pages

    Shirley Chisholm was a “Rough Rider” straight out of the gate. Her mother said at 3 years old, she was bossing kids 3 and 4 years older than her. To know Shirley Chisholm, is to know that she was small in stature but, she had a lot of tenacity. Due to the economic situation in the United States her parents could not afford a good education, so they sent Shirley and her sisters back to Barbados to live with their maternal grandmother, for about 7 years. Her education in the strict, British-style schools of Barbados, she credits with her ease with speaking and writing. After attending those schools, when she returned to the states, she was several years ahead of her peers.…

    • 3452 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    "She probably will be remembered as a woman who challenged everyone. She challenged the white political leadership of the state to do what was fair and equitable among all people and she challenged black citizens to stand up and demand their rightful place in the state and the…

    • 919 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The right for women suffrage was one of Americans greatest achievements, and the fight against segregation changed America and its society in a large scale as well. These brave individuals will continue to receive praise for their devotion of life towards civil rights. They all believed equality was for everyone. Women, men, African Americans, and every individual deserve these rights. They were able to fight with non-violence and despite the obstacles faced they gained support from others. Their actions and voices were louder than bombs and made astonishing…

    • 1478 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Especially with everything that was going on in early 2016 with the black lives matter movement, and all of the protesting, Freeman proves that though African Americans were greatly oppresses at one point, it is possible for African Americans to win law suits, beginning with her. Also, not only was she an African American, but she was also a slave. This is very significant as it goes to show that slaves not only had the power to stand up for themselves in a court hearing, but at the same time could even win the case, though the chances were very slim, she still proved it was possible. Lastly, Massachusetts at the time were not supposed to allow slavery, but thanks to Elizabeth Freeman winning her lawsuit, slavery was abolished in the entire state of Massachusetts. Freeman being a woman ensured that confidence will later be built into women around the world, and at the same time goes to show that if an African American woman can win a lawsuit, any other women can if she puts her mind to…

    • 592 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In her speech “Equal Rights for Women,” Chisholm called for an equality legislation. She argued that during 1969, men discriminated against women because of an unspoken belief that they were inferior. According to Chisholm, society did not think women had “executive ability, orderly minds, stability, or leadership skills” and considered them “too emotional.” She addressed that those who did not conform to the system were “stigmatized as odd and unfeminine.” Discrimination against females also included providing special protection for working women. Chisholm asserted women needed the same rights as men, not privileges. She stated that though women had submitted to discrimination in the past, they were becoming more aware of this situation,…

    • 145 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In 1851, Stanton became close friends with Susan B. Anthony, and together the two were pioneers…

    • 342 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Dating back to the 1970s many people, not just women, were on the rise to seek equality among the sexes. Title IX, passed in 1972 by congress during the Nixon administration, was a direct result of the developing social changes and the growing importance of athletics and education in American culture. Before the amendment was passed, schools had the ability to indirectly restrict women from receiving a higher education and participating in collegiate sports by raising the average grade standard to be admitted and only giving out two percent of their scholarship money on average to female athletes. Title IX, or known as the Equal Rights Amendment, would help to transition and change the roles of women in society. Shirley Chisholm spoke on behalf of the Equal Rights Amendment, “The Equal Rights Amendment would govern only the relationship between the State and its citizens – not relationships between private citizens”.…

    • 228 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Women's Rights fall under so many different categories, we as woman have fought hard for our rights. Women’s rights are still violated today and this is a big issue, Actual or Perceived Sexual Identity, Violence against women in custody, Domestic violence…

    • 683 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Women are constantly objectified in the media and in society. We are told to be ashamed of our bodies and ourselves but boys are told that their sexual urges are manly. This leads to boys growing up and thinking women are their property. Women’s bodies do not belong to you. Yours do not belong to women so why should it be different the other way around? Men are constantly saying that feminism is not needed because, “men and women are equal now”. When in fact, we are not. Women, on average, get paid less than men as well as having less job opportunities. In fact the full time gender pay gap is 10% and the average part time pay gap is 34.5%. Men have even been chosen over women for jobs when they’re under qualified.…

    • 821 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    My social issue that I am researching is gender roles. I am looking at how each gender is treated differently based on their biological design. Women are seen as caring, child bearers, emotional, and weak. Whereas on the other hand, according to society men are strong, aggressive, breadwinners, manly, and man of the house. Based upon these different stereotypes given to men and women there is a huge gender difference in abilities and work ethic. Men tend to make more money on average and work than women. Women also are less likely to be in leadership or promoted to boss like jobs. In Afghanistan woman are very much oppressed, very few have an education or work most…

    • 504 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    A woman the age of twenty-five has decided that she does not wish to have children. She does the research, has a competent argument on why she does not wish to reproduce. She is not particularly fond of children. She has no desire to be a parent or raise a child. She does not have the resources to raise another person to adulthood and she does believe she is or ever will be responsible enough to raise another human being. She decided to go to her gynecologist and they have an appointment. She outlines her reasons and sticks to them like glue. The woman is adamant about becoming sterile. Her doctor becomes apprehensive toward her request after addressing the permanence and the risks. Despite the woman’s research and her beliefs on remaining childless, her physician outright denies her request. Recently, more and more women are choosing to remain childless. The way of life, dubbed child-free, is quickly catching on. These women may be either…

    • 1564 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Throughout history both African-Americans and women have fought for equal rights. Their right to work, vote and overall be accepted for who they were. No matter gender or race. In the fight for equal rights, movements were made including abolitionism and women rights activism. In the same way Women and African Americans fought for their rights by speaking out and including their own life experiences.…

    • 384 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Throughout the years of the U.S History, women were invisible and did not have a voice nor did they allow women to participate or contribute in any political events. Despite of many men’s belief, women of all color fought courageously to be heard and seen to have equal rights, privileges and giving equal opportunities not just solidly for men. I strongly believe women’s played a very important role in our historical period and are…

    • 1635 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays