A Woman's Journey
The "old" definition for feminism was defined as working towards an
overall goal as a group, to achieve economic and political power.
Today, this new definition no longer holds true, because many women
are misrepresented and confused by many new definitions of feminism.
This confusion has created women's ability to take matters into her
own hands, and follow her own goals and inspirations-whatever they may
be.
The first wave of the women's movement started when Abigail Adams
wrote her husband, John, to ask him to "remember the ladies" when
writing the Declaration of Independence. In fact, the writers did
include women's rights, but they took it out in the final draft. This
single incident could have changed history for women, but instead, it
was over 144 years before suffrage for women was granted. As a result
of their oppression, women were compelled to join together, as a
group, and spend many years fighting for their own "natural- born"
rights.
After the first wave, a new wave of women's movements emerged during
the 1960's. Women's rebellion against the middle-class housewife's
role contributed to this second wave of women's movements. It began
with women's examination of their personal lives and developed into a
program for economic and political change. Women's groups discovered
discrimination in the workplace, where women received less pay and
fewer promotions than men did. They also uncovered barriers to women
seeking political office and to female students striving for high
academic achievement.
So, the women of America banned together to achieve their political
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Women faced multiple challenges to establish themselves as equals to men throughout history however, this would have never been possible if not for social progress movements to eliminate gender barriers. Consider the statements of “that is woman’s work” and “that is man’s work”. First, imagine the year is 1920; what vision instantly comes to your mind in what was woman’s work and what was man’s work? Now, fast forward to current day; what instantly comes to mind in consideration of what is woman’s and man’s work? The comparison of the differences of 1920 and 2014 is night and day. Crystal Eastman, a socialist feminist, observed that the 19th Amendment was an important first step but that what women really wanted was freedom and equality. She was campaigning for the equivalence of women in social, political, cultural, and economic status. In the essay titled "Now We Can Begin," she laid out a plan toward this goal that is still relevant today and shared her vision of life that she wanted for herself and women across the nation. (Eastman)
Most diaries from women on the westward journey show that they struggled with upholding their roles as wives and mothers, but they did the best they could under the circumstances. Most of their responsibilities were similar to those they had at home. Cooking cleaning, doing laundry, entertaining children etc. was women’s work, but these obligations were much more difficult being in the middle of nowhere. Women also had extra duties, such as packing up the wagon, making sure their children were with them, and taking on their husband’s role when he fell sick. It was common for children to be left behind amongst all the chaos, fall out of the wagon, or become struck with a disease. Mothers could only watch helplessly and had to continue with the journey if their child died. The diaries of Narcissa Whitman, Amelia Stewart Knight, and Jane Gould Tortillott all contain entries that suggest they were struggling with their roles as women, but were trying to make the best of it.
The Market Revolution took place between 1800-1840. It was described as a time when new forms of transportation connected different parts of the country resulting in an expansion of the marketplace. Although becoming connected mainly defined this time period, it also represented a great amount of people becoming disconnected. People began to disconnect themselves religiously, socially, and individually. It seemed that during this time period, people became more independent from the “norm.”
For a long period of time in the United States women were denied many rights, yet the Nineteenth century was the period of time in American history when women started fighting for their rights. They wanted to earn as much money as men did, wanted to improve their image in mass media, end pay gap between men and women wanted equal access to education and the right to vote. One example of the reform movement is the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848. The Seneca Falls Convention was the first gathering in the United States which was centered around women’s rights and allowed women to speak for the first time, it inspired many people to fight for gender equality, and the Declaration of Sentiments was signed during the conversion.
The men who had been fighting got to return home and the British were defeated, but there was still a war going on. Women were not ready to return to their mundane daily tasks of being a wife. Each day, more and more women came to push for equality. Finally, by 1848, roughly sixty-five years after the ending of the American Revolution, men and women gathered to create The Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions. The ideas set forth by this document did not gain women any more rights than they had in 1847. This document signed by sixty-eight women and thirty-two men was created to be a guideline and a reminder. This document was a light that guided women through their suffrage movement and kept them motivated. It reminded them that “woman is man’s equal,” and, ”was intended to be so by the Creator.” Eventually, after years of fighting, women won the right to vote through the 19th Amendment set forth in 1920. While many women are still fighting to gain more equality, even today, the progress women have already made since the Revolution is remarkable. All it took was hard work, determination, a few letters, and a little love to the husbands of
Women began to speak out against the laws that were deliberately set against them. Throughout this time period, women were denied the right to vote in all federal and most state held elections. Women struggled to achieve equality; equality as citizens, equality in the work place, and equality at home. During this time, Americans worked to fight corruption in government, reduce the power of big business, and improve society as a whole.
Amelia Bloomer:Amelia Bloomer was born in Cortland County, New York, in 1818. She received an education in schools of the State and became a teacher in public schools, then as a private tutor. She married in 1840 to Dexter C. Bloomer, of Seneca Falls, New York. Dexter C. Bloomer was editor of a county newspaper, and Mrs. Bloomer began to write for the paper. She was one of the editors of the Water Bucket, a temperance paper published during Washingtonian revival. Mr. Bloomer lived in Seneca Falls in 1848, but did not participate in the Women’s Rights Convention. In 1849, Bloomer began work with a monthly temperance paper called The Lily. It was devoted to women’s rights and interests, as it became a place for women advocates to express their opinions. The paper initiated a widespread change in women’s dress. The long, heavy skirts were replaced with shorter skirts and knee-high trousers or undergarments. Bloomer’s name soon became associated with to this new dress, and the trousers became known as Bloomers. She continued to new dress and continued advocating for women’s rights in her paper. In 1854, Mrs. Bloomer began giving numerous speeches and continued to fight for equal justice for women.
Women in the early 19th century were considered their husbands’ property, and therefore domestic violence against wives was not uncommon during this time period. Women were taught that their place was in the home, and they were expected to be obedient wives and to never hold a thought or opinion that differed from that of their husband’s. In Zora Neale Hurston’s novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Janie demonstrates to the reader early on in the book her naturally outspoken personality and youthful independence. At sixteen years old, just as she is beginning to become curious about love and the opposite sex, the beautiful young Janie is thrust into marriage and she is faced with having to hide who she is as a person in order to conform to the expectations of a wife during that time. Janie’s profound outspokenness, her beauty, and her subliminal unwillingness to be controlled causes her difficulty as she faces domestic violence, first during her marriage to Joe Starks and again during her marriage to Tea Cake. However, Janie’s physical reaction towards the two different men abusing her is generally the same in each marriage, she remained quiet and cried. However, her mental reactions and feelings toward the abuse changes greatly.
The existence of the division of spheres became evident when men had the power to own property, vote, and work in higher paying jobs in comparison with women. Gradually, women developed an identity allowing them to become independent and gain equality. Abigail Adams, Mary Wollestonecraft, Flora Tristan, Mary Kenney O’ Sullivan throughout history have become the voice that represents women; therefore, helping women to fight for equality. The demand for equal treatment allowed women to engage in numerous tasks that were once prohibited. Women demanded the right to vote by protesting in the Suffrage movement. In 1972, Title XI was written to allow equal access to sports for girls. This movement helped girls to play soccer along with boys in a few schools. Thirty years later, the Women's US Soccer team qualified for the World Cup. Now, as of today, gender roles for women only are gradually diminishing. Women are now seen driving in NASCAR, women playing football along with boys in high school sports, and women enlisting in the military. Women were once housewives but are currently taking occupations that were considered a man's job. These contributions made by these women made it essential to strive for higher education to meet the better needs of society and the economy. Hopefully, being educated of the feminist movement will teach us to become advocates for others in
In her essay, entitled “Women’s History,” American historian Joan W. Scott wrote, “it need hardly be said that feminists’ attempts to expose ‘male biases’ or ‘masculine ideology’ embedded in historical writing have often met with ridicule or rebuttal of as expressions of ‘ideology.’” Scott’s essay discusses the efforts of female historians to both integrate themselves into the history disciples and their struggle to add and assimilate female perspectives, influences, and undertakings into the overall story of history. She also talks about the obstacles and potentially biased criticism that female historians have received and faced upon establishing themselves as accredited members of the historical academic community. One of these historians is Natalie
The last 100 years have been critical in the formation of our modern society and the United States that we are experiencing today. One of the most beneficial actions, that has been a common thread throughout our current system is the women's suffrage movement and feminism as a whole. This movement is influential in our nation’s history, because females make up half of the population of our society and by incorpting them more dynamically into the system it provides a more equal landscape. While there are various outstanding women when thinking about this movement such as Susan. B. Anthony, Bessie Coleman and Molly Brown, unfortunately many remain less acclaimed.
Throughout the 19th century, feminism played a huge role in society and women’s everyday lifestyle. Women had been living in a very restrictive society, and soon became tired of being told how they could and couldn’t live their lives. Soon, they all realized that they didn’t have to take it anymore, and as a whole they had enough power to make a change. That is when feminism started to change women’s roles in society. Before, women had little to no rights, while men, on the other hand, had all the rights. The feminist movement helped earn women the right to vote, but even then it wasn’t enough to get accepted into the workforce. They were given the strength to fight by the journey for equality and social justice. There has been known to be
It seemed like a normal day when I entered Mrs. A’s AP Language and Composition class, but little did I know that she was going to assign a very important project that was going to take forever. I took my seat and wrote down what was on the board. Then I sat patiently and waited for Mrs. A to come explain what we were doing today. When the tardy bell rang, Mrs. A glided into the room and gave us all a stack of papers. She then proceeded to discuss our upcoming assignment, a memoir. As she explained the very important assignment, I wondered whom I would write about. No one really came to mind to write about and I thought for sure I would never be able to get this thing done on time. I finally decided that I would write in on my mother, Kari Jenson. I knew I would probably put the project off until the very end and do it the weekend before even though it would get on my mom’s nerves. Putting work off was just how I did everything, it worked for me. When I arrived home from school that day, I told mom about the project. I told her I would most likely write it about her and she was overjoyed.
The journey of life follows a predetermined pattern; we evolve from needing influence and guidance to finally reaching that point where our lives are up to us. I consider myself very lucky up to this point in my journey. Some people become sidetracked and wind up on a far different course than initially planned, but the detours I made have only assisted in embellishing the individual instead of devouring it.
The role of women throughout mankind has been a dynamic and ever changing role, marked by a constant struggle for equality and respect with the male counterpart. Hatshepsut, the female pharaoh of the ancient Egypt conquered her brothers for access to the throne! Cleopatra, a Hollywood phenomenon, actually partnered with Caesar of Rome and led her land to great prosperity. Joan of Arc, who continually inspires literature and works of art today, started as a peasant woman in France. At the young age of sixteen she became the commander of the French army. All three of these women took very different paths to reach their positions of authority. And yet, one of the most prominent strands of similarity they hold stems from the place of confusion and chaos their countries were facing. The struggle woman of today face regarding their physical appearance is not a new battle. In fact, each of these women battled against the expectations of society in regards to their physical exterior and clothing. And finally-the most memorable aspect of any story- each of these women faced epic culminations that have marked their place in history.