Womens Movement in Europe - Research Paper Example

Women’s Movement in Europe Introduction The diverse roles of men and women have evolved from traditional stereotyped beliefs. Not so long ago, many girls and boys were brought up almost as if they were members of different species. Males were expected to grow to be breadwinners, prosper in their work, and to take active part in community affairs. By contrast, females were expected to take subordinate roles. So much as changed in this century that today’s young people are often astonished by some of the male-female stereotypes that were accepted in the past. Gender has traditionally seen women as assuming a weaker and insignificant role in society. The female is regarded as naturally non-aggressive and passive, the male as naturally aggressive and active. The contrasting female temperaments of men and women have been associated with the dominance of one and the submission of the other. Thus, the more dominating a man, the more masculine he is considered; the more passive and pliant a woman, the more feminine. The growth of economic and political freedom has eventually seen the emancipation of the female gender by exercising her rights and by acknowledging that women are basically equal in opportunities and responsibilities with their male counterparts. The essay hereby aims to proffer women’s movement in Europe which was believed to instigate parallel activities in the United States. The discourse would initially identify the roots of women’s movements in Europe before delving into relevant tactics to eventually achieve the goals they fought for. The underlying concept of gender falls under the theory of social constructionism as various social interactions and interrelationships contribute to the distinguished roles between men and women (Flamand, 2010). Society, in part, dictates the contrasting differences in gender 2 and typecasts each gender to assume the role each has to manifest in society. Flamand (2010, par. 1) clearly explained the theory of social constructionism as “built upon the observation that many of aspects of our everyday experience are the consequence of implicit social agreement, institutional practices or collective social action rather than objective reality, and only exist within the context of such agreements, practices or collective actions. Thus, many of the things we take for granted are not actually objective facts about the world, independent of human subjectivity, but are instead the products of human inter-subjectivity.” Diverse studies and academic literature previously indicate that there are tendencies to evaluate the achievements of men and women differently. Many people make unconscious assumptions about what men and women can and cannot do well. These biases can ultimately be dispelled through a closer evaluation of women as a gender whose strong conviction for justice and equality fought through various means to investigate women’s experience, perspectives, and contributions, placing women at the center of inquiry and making gender roles more profound and enlightening. Brief Historical Background of Women’s Rights The origin of women’s rights, specifically in Europe, can be traced “with the publication of Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Woman in 1792” (Scholastic, 2010, par. 1). Wollstonecraft initially focused on the right to deserve an education equally availed by men. As Kemerling (2006) averred, Wollstonecraft’s book revealed a call to feminist movement by emphasizing that “the foundation of morality in all human beings, male or female, is their common possession of the faculty of reason, and women must claim their equality by accepting its unemotional dictates. Excessive concern for romantic love and physical desirability, she 3 believed, are not the natural conditions of female existence but rather the socially-imposed means by which male domination enslaves them” (Kemerling, 2006, par. 3). A research written by Ballarin, Birriel, Martinez & Ortiz (n.d.) indicated that the initial demands of women focus on the areas of educational, political, and economic rights (par. 8). Previous laws like the Napoleonic Code of 1803 and the Civil Code of 1889 clearly discriminated women in terms of denying economic rights by giving full autonomy and authority over their properties, goods, and income to their husbands (Ballarin, et.al., pars. 8 & 9). In addition to the initial demands, women also expressed demand to avail of opportunities to work and be appropriately paid. More emphasis was focused on the women’s persistent demands for suffrage. Ballarin, et.al. averred that “the demand for the female vote was one of the main causes of women’s mobilisation. This was why feminists thought the vote would give them access to the centres of political decision and would allow them to create laws which would abolish other social inequities. The path to the vote was not easy and it was full of pitfalls and small victories before the suffrage was finally gained” (Ballarin, et.al. par. 12). Various women’s movements in Europe reached international organizations that shared their ideals and the struggles for women’s rights that they fought for. Their struggle for the right to vote was maximized through the assistance of international alliances such as the International Woman Suffrage Association, World Wide Temperance Movement, International Socialism, and the League of Nations and United Nations, among others (Women in World History, 2010). With voices and demands being sensationalized through various medium and organizations, it is more difficult not to heed their goals. 4 Methods and Tactics on Women’s Movements With growth in technology and advancement in various facets of life, the significant role that women have assumed in contemporary societies continues to take a more relevant stance. The demands of women’s movements for increased rights in the areas of education, political and economic aspects of society, were enhanced through the growth of telegraphic connections and the use of the press (Women in World History, 2010). Likewise, Ballarin, et.al. indicated that aside from the relevant and instrumental contribution of the press in airing and magnifying women’s grievances, public organizations “are the means by which energies are focused and strategies and models of political action are developed in order to solve the social question of women” (par. 22). The book written by Spielvogel (2008) revealed liberal and radical tactics used by diverse promoters of women’s rights, especially demanding the right to vote. Accordingly, Spielvogel noted two prominent figures leading contradictory methods, to wit: the liberal movement advocates the use of a more responsible technique in demanding for political power; while the radical group used media and some forms of unconventional publicity stunts such as “pelted government officials with eggs, chained themselves to lampposts, smashed the windows of department stores on fashionable shopping streets, burned railroad cars and went on hunger strikes in jails” (Spielvogel, 2008, 743). Whatever means were used by women’s movements, it is the goal to be heard and demands given that necessitated the instigation of various strategies. As history revealed, the demands were eventually heard and slowly granted. As indicated in Women in World History, the rationale for failure to immediately grant the demand for women’s rights, especially to suffrage are as follows: (1) the existing status was 5 challenged by the demand for suffrage; (2) majority of women did not share the conviction for availing the right to vote; (3) there is an increased fear in the loss of traditional and conventional rights of women; (4) the perception of femininity would be challenged; (5) national movements for independence took precedence; (6) objection to radical means; and (7) the trend to grant and then retract suffrage has occurred intermittently (Women in World History, 2010). With vast amounts of struggles and persistent clamor to heed to women’s demands for civil and constitutional rights, eventually, all demands were eventually granted. Women’s Rights in Contemporary Times The challenges and historical landmarks led and promoted by women have intensified women’s movements to triumph on issues and concerns on the right to vote, increasing opportunities to avail of legal, educational and political rights, taking into account multicultural diversity, and enjoying employment privileges. However, despite the successful granting on most of the demands of women’s movements over time, contemporary times have revealed inequality, injustice, and violence still continue to pervade women’s issues. In fact, in an article written by Shah (2010), he indicated that “despite many successes in empowering women, numerous issues still exist in all areas of life, ranging from the cultural, political to the economic. For example, women often work more than men, yet are paid less; gender discrimination affects girls and women throughout their lifetime; and women and girls are often are the ones that suffer the most poverty” (par. 3). In this regard, women’s movements continue to fight for discrimination and prejudice among women. Helping them are various international organizations, as well as, governmental agencies who pledged to support equality and fair treatment of women among their citizenry, now and in the future. 6 Conclusion The essay was successful in achieving its objective of presenting women’s movements in Europe which propelled women’s activities to promote women’s rights in the United States. The discourse identified the roots of women’s movements in Europe and delved into the demands, methods and tactics to eventually achieve the goals they fought for. The experiences and historical concepts, as well as contemporary status of women’s rights are relevant in terms of enlightening and expanding one’s perspectives in women’s issues globally. A contemporary woman has more roles to assume, not only in one’s particular nuclear family, but have been extended in the community, the workplace, the political arena, and in international spheres. The woman’s plight to fight for her rights have significant basis and the struggles won by various movements in the history of women’s rights in Europe have paved the way for contemporary women to avail of civil and constitutional rights in equal stature as that of their male counterpart. Works Cited Ballarin, Pilar, Birriel, Margarita M., Martinez, Candida & Ortiz, Teresa. Women in the History of Europe. N.d. Web. 03 October 2010. Flamand, L. The Social Constructionist Theory. 2010. Web. 03 October 2010. < http://www.ehow.com/about_5447977_social-constructionist-theory.html> Kemerling, Garth. Mary Wollstonecraft. 2006. Web. 03 October 2010. Scholastic. History of Women’s Suffrage. 2010. Web. 03 October 2010. < http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/suffrage/history.htm> Shah, Anup. Women’s Rights. 14 March 2010. Web. 03 October 2010. < http://www.globalissues.org/article/166/womens-rights> Speilvogel, Jackson J. Western Civilization: Since 1500. Cengage Learning. Print. Women in World History. Women’s Suffrage: A World Wide Movement. 2010. Web. 03 October 2010. Read More