Women Rights
A Brief Look At The History Of Women's Rights Women of the United States have struggled for centuries to have rights equal to men both in and outside the home. It has been a long and often overwhelming process to be recognized as being capable of other duties outside of the household. Men were believed to be the dominant voice in society so when the 1900's gave women the opportunity to vote, it was viewed by many men as a travesty to politics.Prior to activist such as Susan B. Anthony who fought to get women equal voting rights, the first woman to ever vote in America was Lydia Chapin Taft who in 1756 was the first woman permitted to vote. Ms. Taft voted with the consent of the electorate on three separate Massachusetts occasions during 1756 and 1768. If a woman was unmarried or widowed and owned property she was permitted to vote in New Jersey due to the state constitution of 1776. This however, was short lived when in 1807 "aliens" which included women and all people of color were no longer permitted to vote. Women such as Susan B. Anthony stepped up and fought to end the previous law permitting only white males to have say in electoral votes.
Households everywhere have perched in front of the television to watch the classic families such as the Cleavers and laughed not only at the shows antics but, at the overall opinion that women had only one place, in the home. Even after gaining the right to vote women were still expected to play the roles they were "made" for, homemakers. There were women that were working outside of the home, but they were treated unfairly, paid less wages and expected to do twice the work.
In the 1960's another women's movement began to take unfold through the workings of women such as Alice Paul who fought to prove that people everywhere where equal regardless of their sex, economic status or race. Women were demanding to have equal opportunities as well as pay that men were eligible to receive. Men were dominant in fields such as law, medical or business.
The women's movement began to open doors for women and give them the encouragement needed to show they were capable of practicing law or saving a life in the medical field.
Women were beginning to become higher educated and working outside of the home in high powered positions. They were working long hours doing the same job as their male counterparts, but receiving as much as half the pay. The Equal Pay Act was signed in 1963 which made it illegal for an employer to pay a man a higher salary than a women when doing the same job. This was a fantastic idea until employers began to alter the female employees job description or change the titles of the job. Many employers did pay the equal pay, however, they did so by reducing the wages of males to match the females.
Though women's rights have certainly changed for the better in the United States, there continues to be difficulties in gaining appropriate salaries, respect and admiration for many women in the work force. Women in the majority of households are still expected to be the primary homemakers as well as the sole supporter for families. Women past , present and future have proven their abilities to control governments, run major corporations and save a life in the same capacity as their male counterparts. The future may change the roles expected but, until then women everywhere will continue to manage corporations for eight to ten hours each day only to come home and manage their household.
Women were beginning to become higher educated and working outside of the home in high powered positions. They were working long hours doing the same job as their male counterparts, but receiving as much as half the pay. The Equal Pay Act was signed in 1963 which made it illegal for an employer to pay a man a higher salary than a women when doing the same job. This was a fantastic idea until employers began to alter the female employees job description or change the titles of the job. Many employers did pay the equal pay, however, they did so by reducing the wages of males to match the females.
Though women's rights have certainly changed for the better in the United States, there continues to be difficulties in gaining appropriate salaries, respect and admiration for many women in the work force. Women in the majority of households are still expected to be the primary homemakers as well as the sole supporter for families. Women past , present and future have proven their abilities to control governments, run major corporations and save a life in the same capacity as their male counterparts. The future may change the roles expected but, until then women everywhere will continue to manage corporations for eight to ten hours each day only to come home and manage their household.