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Women's rights historical analysis
Women's rights evolved throughout history
Women's rights historical analysis
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In the 1950’s, women were oriented around their homes and were considered to be domestic caretakers for their husbands and children. Betty Friedan challenges the role of women in her book, “The Feminine Mystique,” by elaborating how women are capable of being more than just housewives. While Phyllis Schlafly, an Illinois lawyer and a devoted Catholic, opposes the idea of feminism for it destroys women’s responsibilities to their homes and their families. Friedan and Schlafly explicate the role of women in society, but from two different perspectives, one being a more liberal view while the other conservative, Today, women are supported on whether they believe to accept their role as domestic housewives or reject it to gain something more outside …show more content…
For it directed attention for groups like National Organization for Women and STOP ERA on speaking about important matters on behalf of American women; with both groups being on opposite sides of the spectrum. It gave women the ability to become professionals or stay-at-home moms. It does not indicate that one woman is better than the other, nor is it showing that their decisions are wrong. For it goes to show that women today have finally achieved a place for them to determine their roles that fits their beliefs.
Friedan and Schlafly have two extremely different views on women’s role in the household, however it is because of these powerful women that influenced today’s female society. Today women still care for their children, husband, and home, but they multitask their responsibilities while holding a professional career. Additionally, women have the same opportunities just like men politically, socially, and economically. Whether it be a liberal or conservative opinion, women have gained the right to develop their stance on important
Women who carefully follow their expected roles may never recognize sexism as an oppressive force in their life. I find many parallels between women's experiences in the nineties with Betty Friedan's, in her essay: The Way We Were - 1949. She dealt with a society that expected women to fulfill certain roles. Those roles completely disregarded the needs of educated and motivated business women and scientific women.
During the late nineteenth century, the notion of ?separate spheres? dictated that the women?s world was limited to the home, taking care of domestic concerns. Women were considered to be in the private sphere of society. Men on the other hand were assigned the role of the public sphere, consisting in the participation of politics, law and economics. Women in the meantime were to preserve religious and moral ideals within the home, placing children on the proper path while applying valuable influence on men. The idea was that the typical middle class woman would teach children middle class values so that they too will enjoy the luxuries and benefits in the future that the middle class has to offer (Lecture, 10/17).
To understand the significant changes within the role of women, it’s important to look at the position women held in society prior to World War II. In a famously quoted ruling by the United States Supreme Court in a case denying a woman’s right to practice law, the following excerpt penned by the Honorable Joseph P. Bradley in 1873 sums up how women were perceived during that period of time by their male counterparts. Bradley declared, "The paramount destiny and mission of women are to fulfill the noble and benign offices of wife and mother -- this is the law of the Creator" . While many women may agree that the role of wife and mother is a noble one, most would certainly not agree this position would define their destiny.
It was expected of women to get married, have children, buy a suburban home and do housework. The video, “A Word to the Wives” displays what Betty Friedan calls, “the feminine mystique”. The video presents the dilemma of a woman who is not happy because she does not have the newest house. Her friend has all the new “necessities” in order to successfully complete housework. Women were defined by what they had, not by who they were. Friedan’s research found that despite fulfilling the “feminine mystique”, when women were questioned they realized they were not truly satisfied with their life. The woman in the video would not of been fulfilled by buying a new house, or object. Women were deprived of the need to put their skills and talents to a purpose. The video, “Are You Popular” also shows the expectations of women.. It promotes that appearance, serving others, and rewarding men with “women” gifts such as baking is how to be popular. It condones girls for “parking in cars” but accepts men who do the same thing. Women must earn the approval of men, and men must earn women by doing thing women are “incapable” of. The repression of women in the 50’s is what eventually causes the “outbreak” of feminism in the 60’s. The idolism of the “female mystique” covered the sexism against women in the
Friedan points out that, "They [men] have an unprecedented freedom to choose the kind of work they will do; they also have an unprecedented amount of time apart from the hours and days that must actually be spent in making a living. And suddenly one realizes the significance of today's identity crisis." (790). Friedan also explains the difference in the times of the pioneer days, when women were more respected and did more, to her present time. When women were no longer needed to be doing hard work and were simply tasked with staying in their homes to raise their children. "These women were respected and self-respecting members of society whose pioneering purpose centered in the home. Strength and independence, responsibility and self-confidence, self-discipline and courage, freedom and equality were part of the American character for both men and women, in all the first generations."(791). The way Friedan conveys the past standards helped her pave the way to her main argument of women having identity crisis's. Because the order of the text was old standards of the American woman, it made sense when Friedan started explaining how things were for her in that time. After explaining the societal standards, Friedan went on to explain why women deserve to do more than only becoming a
The social perception of women has drastically changed since the 1950’s. The social role of women during the 1950’s was restrictive and repressed in many ways. Society during that time placed high importance on expectations of behavior in the way women conducted themselves in home life as well as in public. At home the wife was tasked with the role of being an obedient wife, caring mother, and homemaker. Women publicly were expected to form groups and bond over tea with a slice of cake. All the while government was pushing this idealize roll for women in a society “dominated” by men. However, during this time a percentage of women were finding their way into the work force of men. “Women were searching their places in a society led by men;
The “Feminine Mystique” is a highly influential book in the early second wave feminism movement. It is said that it helped shaped the demands of the second wave by insisting for the right to work outside the home, and to be paid equally; the right for reproductive freedom; the demand that women should not be expected to have children and be mothers if they do not want to. Betty Friedan addresses “the problem that has no name” which is the women who are highly educated, suburban housewives that are bored and want something “more” in their life. This is the point where women knew we needed a second wave. Women’s role had gone backwards and they were beginning to realize that they were all experiencing the same “problem that has no name”. “The
Today many historians believe that this declaration that they drafted was a great turning point for women's rights. And they were right indeed, seeing that this convention would soon lead to women gradually gaining rights so that they would eventually be equal to the rights of a male. Today it is still debated whether women are still discriminated against. I believe in some unfortunate cases this is true, but for the most part women have gained equal rights to males. These women believed that all men and women are created equal, they have certain rights: among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness....
Early feminists gained the right to vote, but were silenced when it came to being a homemaker. Women didn't have the drive because what was the point in trying? During the war, women went and got jobs to replace men and enjoyed their newfound careers. After the war, women were told to go back to their homes, but many didn't want to and felt very sad to go back. Powerful pieces of literature were posted during this time and gave women courage. Betty Friedan gave voice to second wave feminists by writing her book “The Feminine Mystique.” She found inspiration throughout her early life and careers. Betty created the National Organization for Women. A place where woman can educate each other on feminism. Betty was a high esteem journalist but
In her essay “The Importance of Work,” from The Feminine Mystique published in 1963, Betty Friedan dives into the multivariate equation of self identification, and how women must involve themselves in more advanced work in society to fulfill their full human identity. Friedan wrote this essay to communicate with women about how they must have purpose and ambition if they want to live up to their potential. Friedan graduated with highest honors from the University of California Berkeley, co-founded the National Organization for Women, and has written many essays inspiring the feminist movement. “The Importance of Work,” is one of her most famous and renowned writings because of the way she uses rhetorical appeals and strategies to increase the persuasiveness of her argument.
It allowed married women the right to retain property they owned before marriage and wages they earned outside the family home. (pp.247) Their rights continued to progress when both white and black women were given the right to vote, although it still didn’t have the impact that was expected. Not only were women given more rights, but they also started attending schools and seeking employment. This was a big step for women, but men interpreted this as a threat to the balance of power. Weitz stated that after new “scientific” ideas were combined with old definitions of women’s bodies, due to their ill and fragile bodies, “white middle-class women were unable to sustain the responsibilities of political power or the burdens of education or employment.”
This shows women today that they are in control of their own destiny, and that they can stand up for themselves and how they should be
The late nineteenth century was a critical time in reshaping the rights of women. Commonly this era is considered to be the beginning of what is know to western feminists as “first-wave feminism.” First-wave feminism predominately fought for legal rights such as suffrage, and property rights. A major hallmark of first-wave feminism is the concept of the “New Woman.” The phrase New Woman described educated, independent, career oriented women who stood in response to the idea of the “Cult of Domesticity,” that is the idea that women are meant to be domestic and submissive (Stevens 27). Though the concept of the New Woman was empowering to many, some women did not want to give up their roles as housewives. These women felt there was a great dignity in the lifestyle of the housewife, and that raising children was not a job to scoff at. Mary Freeman's short story “The Revolt of 'Mother',” tells the story of such a domestic woman, Sarah, who has no interest in leaving her position as mother, but still wishes to have her voice heard in the private sphere of her home. Freeman's “Revolt of Mother,” illustrates an alternative means of resistance for women who rejected the oppression of patriarchy without a withdrawal from the domestic lifestyle.
Achieving roles for women that are as equal as men, before and during the twentieth century, appeared to be inevitable in the United States. Women were limited to domesticity, performing duties that only serve their families as wives, mothers, and diligent daughters. Women were absorbed and accustomed to these standards, oblivious to their worth and capabilities that are above and beyond their set domestic duties. “Groups of women challenged this norm of the twentieth century and exceeded their limited roles as domestic servants by organizing movements whose sole purpose is to achieve equality within a male-dominated society” (Norton
In the past, many people believed that women’s exclusive responsibilities were to serve their husband, to be great mothers and to be the perfect wives. Those people considered women to be more appropriate for homemaking rather than to be involved in business or politics. This meant that women were not allowed to have a job, to own property or to enjoy the same major rights as men. The world is changing and so is the role of women in society. In today’s society, women have rights that they never had before and higher opportunities to succeed.