Historical Developments in the United States that Presented Opportunities for Women - Essay Example

? The historical developments in the United s that presented new opportunities for women in society. here History andPolitical Science February 28, 2012 Table of contents Introduction 3 Industrial Revolution 3 The Rising Status of Women in Education 4 Important Women in History 5 The Suffragettes 5 Women at Work 6 Important Laws 7 Education 8 Barriers 8 Conclusion 9 References 10 The historical developments in the United States that presented new opportunities for women in society. 1. Introduction The rising status of women in the United States as reflected in our history started from the industrial revolution the period 1750 to 1850. During this time a lot of changes occurred. The industrial revolution brought prosperity to the economy, technology advancement and freedom to slaves and at the same time gave way for the end of the isolation of women in the United States. The industrial revolution One of the most significant contributions of the industrial revolution at the end of the nineteenth century is the rise of the status of women. Women during this period were preferred by factory owners because they could be easily employed, they could be underpaid and could be required to work longer hours. This situation divided the home and workplace. Often times, women were found to be competing with jobs in the factories which were originally male dominated. The way of life of women began to change with the introduction of technologies and the coming of the consumer society. According to, Butler Chris,(2007) women found plenty of time to stay home and be associated with “housewife role”. Women used their extra time to be related in social and political issues. At first they started participating with church activities who also discussed same issues. A middle class society eventually emerged wherein women spent more time at home and did more spending. In time they were considered as an important aspect of the emerging society during the half of the nineteenth century (Butler, Chris). Thus, at this time the rise of women’s status began and then the isolation of women ends. The rising status of women in education The rising status of women led to other opportunities. More women were seen in the workplaces, and were encouraged to pursue secondary and college course. By the end of the 19th century, the number of women students greatly increased. According to Women’s International Center (WIC), in 1870, an estimated one fifth of resident college and university students were women and by 1900, this proportion had increased to more than one third. The figure obtained in WIC states that at the beginning of the 20th century women had: obtained l9 percent of all undergraduate college degrees, and by 1984, this figure increased to 49 percent. Women also increased their numbers in graduate study, by mid l980, women were earning 49 percent of all masters degrees and about 33percent of all doctoral degrees. In l985, about 53 percent of all college students were women. (WIC) As such, many courses became female dominated like nurses, teachers and secretaries. As women began to be accepted in society, many of them took casual dancing and sports. Their rising status allowed them to participate in sports like crocheting, biking and horseback riding. Even the clothing of women at the twentieth century was less confining. (Butler, Chris). In recent events, women became more daring, as they take part in swimming, tennis and other athletic fields. We even see women boxers and other extreme sports. Important women in history The end of women’s isolation allowed them to become more visible in the society. It had encouraged women to participate in politics, and to organize reforms movements. In the 18th and 19th century, the way women were treated gradually changed. For instance, the achievements of Elizabeth of England in the 18th century, Catherine the Great of Russia in 18th century and Queen Victoria of England in the 19th century have been properly noted and recognized, WIC said. From 1500s to present there are unsung women heroes who have contributed to the advancement of women in America. In 1700s, we have Mary Musgrove, a Georgian woman who was an important interpreter who helped avoid a war. We also have Abigail Williams who wrote letters and exerted influence over US president husband John and son, Quincy; and in 1900s, we have Esther Ross who devoted 50 years of her life to winning federal recognition of the Stillaguamish Tribe in the Puget Sound Area of Washington State. There are plenty others, but we will always remember the amiable Lady Bird Johnson, the First Lady of President Lyndon Johnson who was instrumental in promoting the Highway Beautification Act, and of course, the recent First Lady, Nancy Davis Reagan who championed the “Just Say No” to drugs program for school children. Other women got famous in social and political activism, others got famous in sports and entertainment, and medical field. I will omit the list because it is lengthy.(“Important and famous women in America”). The suffragettes. All this encouraged women to participate in politics, and to organize reforms movements. In the 19th century, they initiated reform movements to improve education, to initiate prison reform, to ban alcoholic drinks, and, during the pre-Civil War period, to free the slaves. In the 18th century, women had no participation in politics, but the American women felt it was their right to be allowed to vote. The crusade that was started by women took them 50 years, but resulted to the 19th Amendment of the Constitution giving women rights to vote and enter into politics. The women heroes, as recorded in the American history are Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady, Sojourner Truth, Elizabeth Blackwell, Eleanor Roosevelt, Louisa May Alcott and Hillary Rodham Clinton (SIRS Knowledge Source). Susan Anthony, one of the suffragettes who wrote the history said that the 1848 Convention in the Seneca Falls had dared America to a societal revolt that in the end modified the lives of women. The leaders in the said movement, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady neither lived to see their dreams be fulfilled to reality, because it was only approved in 1920, but their work was continued by other suffragettes. (Anthony Center for Women’s Leadership. 2006). Although they were allowed to vote, the participation of women in politics were minimal. It was only in 1917 that they started to run for positions in congress. In l917, Janette Rankin of Montana was the first woman who was elected as representative in the US House of Representatives. (WIC). This right was also enjoyed by other women who served in different capacities in the government service in the following years. Women at work There are two significant events that further gave rise to the status of women. First is that women played important roles during the world war I when so many men were not around and women were needed to perform their jobs. Women played important roles during the war. About 300,000 women performed non combatant roles in the US army and in the Navy as secretaries, nurses and typists; while many European women performed underground resistance movements during World War II, and in Israel, women were drafted to receive combat training in the armed forces. Women continued to be employed and the number increased in 1989, as WIC said this comprised of about 45 percent of the labor force in the United States but only a small percentage were employed in decision-making jobs. Women continue to work n positions as clerks, factory work, retail sales, service jobs. secretaries, bookkeepers, and typists. Women in factories often work as machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors. Many women in service jobs work as waitresses, cooks, hospital attendants, cleaning women, and hairdressers. Important laws The passage of the Equal Pay Act of 1963 ended discrimination among women and gave them equal rights with male counterparts. The subsequent laws promulgated further rights for women. Civil rights act of 1965 prohibits discrimination against women by any company who has 25 employees or more. Presidential Executive Order in 1967 prohibits bias against women in hiring by federal government contractors. By tradition women are considered to be of weaker sex, but this is not true, since physiological tests according to WIC, showed that women have greater tolerance for pain and statistics showed that women live longer and are more tolerant on diseases. Today, women have more control of their bodies because now they can manage the number of their children due to the United States Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion.Education These developments ended the isolation of women on the culture of motherhood that prevents them from getting higher education and pursuing their career. Before 1800s, women were not allowed to enter medical schools, and only 5 percent constituted the total number of women doctors in the United States. But by 1980s this proportion has increased to 17 percent.(WIC) There was also change in the professional status of women as teaching profession became a domain of women. In 1980, WIC said, there were twice as many women who taught elementary and high schools. In higher education, women concentrated on teaching education, social service, home economics and library science. Barriers Clearly, women have passed the bondage of isolation. They have pressed their rights to earn a living, to gain higher education and an equal place. But today there are still barriers in the quest for women’s equality. But it is now called the social isolation because in many parts of the United States, we still have the social isolation brought about by poverty and lack of education. The problem of social isolation caught the attention of Cong. Marjoles of Pennsylvania whereupon, she led the United States delegation to United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women. Here, the 198 delegates of the United Nations pledged to further the plights of women around the world. Inspired by the commitments of thousands of women around the world, Cong. Marjoles formed The Women’s Campaign International (WCI) in1998. The mission of this organization is to be able to help women be freed from isolation by teaching them skills, teaching them to become leaders, to be public speakers, to establish media relations, to be organizers at grass root levels and become effective campaign strategists. Women are also being taught to become involved in politics such as voter outreach, mobilization and polling. They are also encouraged to take part in government activities such as doing policy analysis, and fund raising. In this endeavor, the WCI has worked with different groups of people and organization so that women would have participation in the development of public policy and women issues are dutifully represented on local, nation and regional agendas. Most often, these are political leaders, activists, advocacy groups and non-profit organizations WCI believed that with working with emerging democracies, and post conflict regions around the world, the organization is able to give opportunities to women to participate in public advocacy, market and political processes. WCI develops leaders who transform the lives of everyone they serve. This is a tall order, but with this advocacy, our women leaders in the United States could be a very good example of true women who fought to bee free from cultural isolation and now the social isolation. Conclusion All through out our history, women had fewer legal rights and development opportunities than men. Being a wife and a mother were then considered to be their main preoccupations. But in the passing of the decades, women increased their opportunities for work and education. But what is most significant perhaps is they worked hard and were able to change their traditional role in the society. References Anthony Center For Women’s Leadership.(2006). Suffrage history. University of Rochester. Retrieved 02 February 2012 fromhttp://www.rochester.edu/sba/suffragehistory.html Butler, Chris. (2007) “The rising status of women in the late 1800s.” The Flow of History.Com Retrieved 27 February 2012 from http://www.flowofhistory.com/readings-flowcharts/the- early-modern-era/the-industrial-revolution/fc114 .“Important and famous women in America(n.d.) United States History. Retrieved February 27, 2012 fomhttp://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1551.html SIRS Knowledge source. (2011) Women’s history month 2011. Retrieved 02 February 2012 http://www.proquestk12.com/bulletins/11MAR/spots.shtml WIC-Women’s International Center. (1994) Women’s History in America. Retrieved 02 February 2012http://www.wic.org/misc/history WCI- Women’s Campaign International . Empowering Women to Transform their Communities. Retrieved 03 February 2012 from http://www.womenscampaigninternational.org/about/ Read More