The lives of women from the 15th century to through the 20th century changed remarkably. As society changed, so did the role of women in the household, politics, workforce, and their rights. We started with the 15th century, a time where social classes were very rigid, which also led for a huge gap between the roles of women. Higher class women had different expectations and roles than women from lower classes up until the early 20th century. In the 1400’s and 1500’s, women’s lives were solely based around the home. Since they were 10, they were immediately taught domestic chores and how to run a household. Girls did not go to school, because they were not seen as worthy for an education and it would distract them from their main job as a household worker. Women remained home while their husbands worked in the fields and handled all responsibilities of the home. They also were not allowed to participate in political activities and had very little freedom so that they did not become more powerful than men.
This remained the same throughout the 17th century. The 18th century did bring little change to the role of women. Many women still stayed at home with the children and tended to household chores. However, during this time, some women began working outside of the home to receive an additional income for the family, working in domestic jobs such as maids, childcare, and cooking for other families. Also during this time, women began to participate in religious activities, and some even held significant positions in religious sects. Women also began to receive education in school. It was seen as necessary because they raised children, the future generation, so it was seen that they should have a basic education to further enlighten the upcoming generation of leaders. The 19th century did not change much from the 18th, however, during this time, social classes began to play a greater role on the lives of women, as the gap between rich and poor grew significantly during this time. Lower class women had to work outside the home, manage household chores, and raise the children. Without their income, the family couldn't survive. Upper class women on the other hand, grew up in a pampered lifestyle. They did not have to work and experience the luxuries of life. Women during this time were still excluded from political decisions and voting. The 20th century brought the greatest change to the lives of American women. It was during this century that women began to fight for their rights, demand freedom, and actively join the workforce. Women during the 1900’s gained a new confidence which led to great change by the end of the century. With the wars that took place and men leaving to fight, women got to show the nation that they could work just as hard and keep the country going. The rise of women’s rights movements brought many changes to women’s lives including the right to vote in 1920 and gender equality laws passed around the 1980’s. The status of African American women and other immigrant women improved parallely with white women. They faced more hardships at first and their equality was delayed compared to white women, however, their status in America improved greatly after their arrival in the United States to the 20th century. Over the centuries, the role and status of women in society changed notably as society itself changed and new improvement and technologies arised. We are now in a society where men and women are treated and seen as equals, however there is always room for improvement in different aspects of our lives. Maybe we will never be equal, but maybe we will reach a time in life where the entire human race is treated equally without regards to social status, race, and gender. The transition from the 50’s to the 1960's was a tremendous and significant change for American women, and the decades after continued to improve their lives. For the first time, the birth control pill was placed into the market, abortion was legalized, and laws were put in place to ensure equality between genders in the workplace. Women’s rights movements gained much support which led to radical changes and gender equality. Birth Control/Abortion During the early 20th century, it was very important for a woman to get married before age 25. She was usually married right after, sometimes even during, high school, because there was a lot of pressure from society. Instead of pursuing higher education, females were encouraged to get married, which they called their "M.R.S. Degree." However, some continued education even after marriage if their husbands permitted them and if they had time (after completing their responsibilities in the house). If a woman wasn't married by 25, it was seen as an embarrassment because she couldn't start a family, which was seen as her duty. Women were also not allowed to refuse any demands from their husbands, including conceiving children. This became a great problem for them because women ended up becoming pregnant, many times against their will. This also led to greater sized families, some with around 4-6 children. For those in high school, being pregnant resulted in expulsion from school, halting them from completing their education. Some girls in high school, who weren't married yet also became pregnant and this was seen as a taboo in society. The problems caused by unwanted pregnancy grew significantly and acted as a barrier for many women. In 1960, Enovoid, the first birth control pill, went on the market. Because of this, women were no longer limited by unwanted pregnancies. They now had the choice to delay pregnancy until they were ready, which gave them the opportunity to continue their education or to continue enjoying their lives before taking on the responsibility of parenting. In 1973, the federal government overturns state laws and legalizes the availability of abortion. This also gives women more freedom in deciding whether to birth children or not. There were times when women still got pregnant due to malfunction or misuse of the pill, and abortion acted as another means to delay pregnancy. Women’s Rights Movements 1960-1970 Prior to the 1960’s, the life of an American woman was very limited. She was expected to follow one path: marry in her early adult years, start a family, and dedicate the rest of her life to her husband and raising her children (in the late 50’s women had become a part of the workforce and some managed family life and work). Especially after men returned from the war and needed jobs, they wanted women to go back to the home so there would be more jobs for men. However, many women started arguing that they have the right to live life how they wanted and to have their own freedom. This led for an increased participation in women’s rights movements, where women demanded their freedom and equality in society. The 1960’s and 1970’s were decades of great success for the women's rights movement. Many women started to expect the same jobs as men, and believed that women should have equal rights in the workplace. As mentioned in the previous section, they faced sexual harassment, less pay, and less job advancement than men. Although an equal pay legislation was passed in 1963, it didn’t make much of a difference in the workplace. The women were angered by this and created an organization called the National Women’s Organization in 1966. They went on to lobby Congress for pro-equality laws and assist women seeking legal aid as they battled workplace discrimination in the courts. Betty Friedan was an important leader of this organization who believed that gender discrimination needed to be attended to or else it would affect everyone in a political and personal manner. The organization brought change through lobbying Congress to change laws, publicizing issues like rape and domestic violence through the media (songs, books, shows, etc), and reaching out to ordinary women to both expand the movement and raise their awareness of how feminism could help them. There were also several songs that brought awareness to women’s rights and encouraged women to fight for their rights such as “I am Woman” by Helen Reddy, “You Don’t Owe Me” by Leslie Gore, and “Sisters, O Sisters” by Yoko Ono. Other organizations, such as The Women’s Liberation Group and The Women’s Rights Group focused on individual cases of discrimination and helped bring justice to unfair practices. They also protested in major cities, on college campuses, and at beauty pageants because they didn’t like how women were treated like objects and used as amusement to men. They burned hair curlers, bras, and makeup to show their anger and opposition to the pageant. Feminist political organizations were the driving force behind efforts of the movements to fight for social equality and overcome oppression. During the 70’s, the greatest achievement of the movement was getting the government to legalize abortion. In 1973, the supreme court case Roe vs. Wade constitutionalized abortion as it highlighted the difficulties women faced from unwanted pregnancies. Women also started gaining support from the rest of society. Many men believed that women deserved to be treated as equals, seeing that they can do the same work as men. With the growing support for women’s rights movements, radical changes were made that transformed the lives of American women and their roles in society. 1980-1990 The hard work of women’s rights movements in the 60’s and 70’s led for easier, more equal lives of women in the 80’s and 90’s. Women were gaining more control over society as laws with advantages towards women were created. Feminism started creating a more equal society. On Sept. 3,1981 discrimination against women was eliminated Many women obtained jobs in the federal government and Congress, the federal government passed several laws which gave women greater equality in society and in the workplace, and workplaces had much greater gender equality (1963 Equal Pay Act, 1964 Civil Rights Act). In 1984, Geraldine Ferraro becomes the first woman nominated for vice president by a major party. In 1993, Janet Reno becomes the first woman to hold the office of Attorney General of the United States. The number of women in the workforce increased to 78%. Many women were now seen working in professional fields and seeing a women as a doctor, lawyer, and businessman was very common. Additionally, the huge wage gap between men and women decreased significantly. Many laws were enforced by the government to ensure fairness between the genders. In 1993, the supreme court ruled that sexual harassment was illegal. In 1999, women could sue against sexual discrimination. There were no longer any laws regarding women’s property ownership. The men no longer gained full access to all property. Everything belongs to both husband and wife. Overall, the lives of women greatly improved in the 80’s and 90’s due to the hard work of the women fighting for rights in the 60’s and 70’s. They had more freedom and were seen as equal individuals in society. Profession and Education During the 60’s, more women had entered the paid workforce than ever. Before, they were limited to working as nurse, teachers, and secretaries. Now, they were working with men in paid job fields, however this led to greater problems in the workplace. Women had to face sexual harassment, unequal pay, and unequal job opportunities at work. A man was paid 60% more than a woman for the same job. This angered many women, which led to the growing support for the National Organization of Women. The organization focused on dismantling inequality between genders in the workplace through anti-discrimination laws and protests. In the 70’s and 80’s, even more women joined the workforce. The 60’s and 70’s were filled with movements fighting for gender equality in the workplace, and with the few changes made, women continued joining the force. While the wage gap failed to close as much as hoped, it still did become smaller. They mobilized on all fronts. 70’s women also fought for equal rights in business and in education. Between 1970 and 1989, the number of women in colleges increased by 60%. Higher education allowed for job positions in more professional businesses. For the first time in America’s history, more women were going to college than men. Women also began taking management roles in businesses. The 90’s were a time where women began excelling in education and the workforce. Women received 49% of the degrees in college and 40% of the medical degrees. Compared to the 80’s, the wage of working women increased by 30%. It is also now socially acceptable for both men and women to work. This was helpful for families because they had two incomes coming into the household and evenly distributed household responsibilities. There was also more equality in the workforce as wage gaps decreased significantly. Women were doctors, lawyers, business leaders, models and actresses, just to name a few. Overall, the 1990's were an era of great professional success for women. Household and Society Women’s role at home has changed over time. In the 1960's, women were married by the age of 19. Women were expected to marry, start a family, and devote their life to house work. The majority of people believed that women belonged at home. They believed that women should cook, do the chores, and take care of the family. In the 1960's, Women did work, but they were limited to jobs like teacher, nurse, or secretary and earned less wages compared to men. In the 1970's, during the Vietnam War, men went off to fight in the war so women had to stay behind and support the family. Women became more independent and took a more leadership role in running the family. Women fought for their rights for education and jobs. More women were slowly moved away from the home setting to the work setting. Women started going to college and the wage gap slowly started to close in. in the 1970's, Women could officially join the army. The 1980's saw a shift in women from the home into labor forces and out of marriages and into independent living arrangements. In the 1990's, men did more household work than earlier. Most families had two income earners and juggled chores and childcare responsibilities equally between husband and wife. During the 1990's, women thought that if men were allowed to do something, then they can do it too. Women started giving priority to their future in addition to thinking about the family. The 1990's saw fewer women stayed at home, less number of children per family, and more women attending college and a higher education. In the 1960's, 34% of the women worked outside their home. In the 1990's, about 60% if the women worked outside their home. Women faced faced a lot of backlash in the initial period of change. Everything women did was looked upon by the society by the society and the media. By 1990's, this attitude had changed and women were treated as symbols of progress. African American Women Throughout history, the role of African American women has changed dramatically. In the 1960's, African American women were not allowed to participate directly in the civil rights marches. Even though they could not participate in the marches, African American women served as a lead source for gathering people within local communities. They were considered as the “backbone of the Civil Rights Movement.” These women suffered cruel oppression which made them more determined to make a difference in their own life. African American women took control of their family and leadership of religion. They took upon themselves the responsibility of protecting the community. One very important figure, in the African American civil rights movements, was Rosa Parks. She was the symbol of African Americans who struggled for equal rights and freedom. On December 1st, 1955, Rosa Parks got on a bus to go home. The African American section, on the bus, was full so she sat in the seat reserved for whites. When a white man got on the bus, he rudely asked Rosa Parks to sit somewhere else; she didn’t move. She was arrested because she refused to give up her seat. In the 60's, there was still segregation, white women had more opportunities in society than African American women. In the 1970's, African Americans women continued to fight for equality and racial segregation officially ended, but white people still saw themselves as superior to African Americans. In the 1980's, African American women made great progress in education and entered into previously forbidden jobs, but there was still discrimination of gender and race. African American women earned less than African American men, white women, and white men. In the 1990's, the empowerment of African American women gained traction. They had more rights and opportunities than ever before. In 1992, first African American female, Mae Jenison, went into space. African American women had so many more opportunities and more equality than they had previously experienced in the late 20th century, which led for them to accomplish more than ever before. Conclusion The late 20th century brought significant change for American women. They obtained so much more freedom and equality due to the rise of women's rights movements and their gaining support. Organizations were founded where women fought hard for their rights. By the end of the century, society viewed men and women as equals. Women and men worked together in the workforce and, unlike in the beginning of the 1960's, the 1990's brought great gender equality in all aspects of life. The 1960's through 1990's may have been the greatest era of change for American women. Comparing Sources
The book, Balancing Act: Motherhood, Marriage, and Employment Among American Women by Daphne Spain, describes the progression of the role of women over time. According to this book, Women have always held many roles, but their responsibilities have changed over time. They are now capable of doing multiple tasks and fulfilling multiple roles at the same time. Earlier the norm was, women got married and then had children. After their children grew up, the mothers either stayed at home or entered the labor force. In the new society, many women have children out of wedlock. Women are now joining workforce and are being independent much earlier in their lives. This book glorifies the role women have played and the sacrifices women have done to not just unite but at times even run the family. The author believes, women have not shied from taking responsibilities and have stood up to the challenge. The book, Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women, by Susan Faludi, talks about the backlash faced by women as their role changed over time. The author describe how the media and society tried to turn back the clock on the change in women role. The book mentions how the press glorified educated women staying home. The authors shows that the response of media to changes in women role has not altered since Victorian era and after. Women have fought against the media and society. This book also highlights change in attitude of men over time. Men are now seen taking pride in the social progress of women. Now criticism towards women have been less. This book goes ahead to caution women against the temptation and misuse of their progress by opportunistic. The book cites an example of celebration of suffrage held in Washington DC where the organizers encouraged to smoke to demonstrate their freedom. This book goes a step further in not just glorifying women progress but also advises them on how to avoid pitfalls. Both of the sources talked about the role of American women in society from the 1960's to the 1990's, however Balancing Act: Motherhood, Marriage, and Employment Among American Women focuses more on the role of women in the household, society, and the workforce, while Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women was centered on women fighting for their rights and how they obtained them. They were very interesting to read and provided an insightful look into the lives of women in American during the late 20th century. Citations: Faludi, S. (2006). Backlash the undeclared war against American women. New York: Three Rivers Press. Spain, D., & Bianchi, S. M. (1997). Balancing act: motherhood, marriage, and employment among American women. New York, NY: Russell Sage Foundation. During the 1970's, singers such as Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye, Helen Reddy, and Neil Young used their music to bring awareness to situations and to express their views on happenings in the United States, such as the Vietnam War and civil rights movements. Here are a few songs where singers made statements about events in the US during the 1970's through their music: Ohio- Neil Young The song Ohio by Neil Young was written after and in response to the death of students because of their participation in anti-war protests at Kent State University. A group of American students at the University were attacked because they were seen as anti-Nixon or not supporting their country. The government wanted to control the anti-war protests so that the movement didn’t gain momentum. When the United States of America became involved in Vietnam, many Americans back lashed and caused an uproar disagreeing with the decision. Several young adults, specifically students in college, hated that the United States had become a part of something that they had no reason to be involved in. Students, such as the ones at Kent State, protested against the war to show their anger, which led to them being attacked by the National Guard in order to maintain order. This event really got to Neil Young and he wrote this song to bring awareness to the situation and to show that it is not right to take the right of lawful protest. This song was also banned for a while because it was considered anti-war and anti-Nixon and the United States didn’t want the message to be spread. Find the Cost of Freedom- CSNY Find the Cost of Freedom was a song by CSNY (David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, and Neil Young) released in 1970. This song is a memory regarding all those who died fighting in the Vietnam War, and those who died back home in the United States, partaking in anti-war protests. This song, like Ohio, was mainly focused on the specific event of Kent State. In the verse, “Find the cost of freedom Buried in the ground Mother Earth will swallow you Lay your body down,” The cost of freedom refers to the death of the people who fought in the war and people fighting against the war, who are now “buried in the ground” because they fought the “freedom war.” By saying “the cost of freedom” it is making it sound like fighting for freedom results in a negative way during this time, in this case death. The government won’t listen to the people who are against the war even if they have the right to protest. Instead, those who protest anti-war are killed because they are “going against the president.” Those sent to Vietnam to fight in the war, are told they are fighting for freedom, which also results in the death of many American soldiers. Ku Klux Klan- Steel Pulse Ku Klux Klan was a song released in 1978 by the Steel Pulse. This is a protest song that has a clear anti-racism stance. The song highlights the blatant racism by the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). This song was written in England in the backdrop of increasing atrocities by the KKK clan members. The verse “Stand strong black man, take you blow. You have to stop the Ku Klux Klan” calls on African Americans to stand up against the violence and mistreatment. One of the organizations that was put together to fight for African Americans rights was the Black Panther Party. It rose to power in the 1960s, but in the early 70s the Black Panther Party began to lose its effectiveness. In the 1970s, African Americans continued to fight for their equality because organizations, such as the Ku Klux Klan, were continuing to torture African American by bombing schools and churches, killing them on streets, and threatening African Americans to stop fighting for their rights. Get Up Stand Up- Bob Marley and The Wailers Get Up Stand Up is a song released in 1973 by Bob Marley and the Wailers. This song is about standing up against oppression and injustice. The 1960s and 1970s was an era where minorities and people of color was subjected to discrimination and oppression. Having brought up in Jamaica, Bob Marley was used to fight for his religious and social rights. This song is about fighting for acceptance of his Rastafarian religion and taking action to avoid oppression. An earlier version of Rastafarianism believed that white people are inferior to black people and blacks will rule the world. The white people didn’t like that idea and feared the idea of the religion spreading and becoming superior, so they began to treat them poorly. The verse “Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights,” states that people who believe in the Rastafarian religion should stand up and demand respect for their religion in the United States. American Pie- Don McLean American Pie, sung by Don McLean, is about how American culture changed greatly from the 50’s, through the 60’s, and how it currently is in the 70’s, focusing more on the role of music in society. In the line, “A long, long time ago...I can still remember how that music used to make me smile.” McLean says that the music of the 50’s was the best and it made everyone get on their feet and dance. “But February made me shiver...Bad news on the doorstep, I couldn't take one more step.” It was inspired by the plane crash of February 1959, which killed Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper, Holly being McLean’s greatest inspiration (hence why he mentioned that February made him shiver). McLean calls this “the day music died”, talking about the standard rock and roll, because they were the three greatest artists in the genre and now they were dead. During the 50’s and early 60’s, rock and roll was very popular and music was a big part of American culture. Later on, however, people began to see rock and roll as inappropriate and negatively influencing the younger generation, because the music had a “bad-ass” or “i-don't-care-about-anything-I-do-what-I-want” theme to it. Many of the singers themselves believed that the music was not “music” and it was simply loud noise with nonsense words. According to McLean, everybody actually cared about and valued music during the 50’s. However, events in 60’s such as the assassination of Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., Vietnam War, and the rise of civil rights movements led for the focus of Americans to shift from music to politics. This, McLean says, must have been another reason for the decline in interest of music. The 50’s was a decade on innocence and everybody was hopeful for the future and worry-free. After John F. Kennedy was assassinated, this hope died along with him, especially in younger generations. This led for a change from innocence to anger and violence. On top of that, America became involved in Vietnam, which led to greater violence in the United States because so many people were against the war, resulting in violence from the government to control the protesters. There was also an increased effort for civil rights movements. More people began supporting women to obtain their rights in the workplace and at home, while the movements for African American rights also gained momentum. With all of the focus on politics and fighting for rights, music was not exactly the main priority. Overall, in American Pie, Don McLean discusses how the United States changed dramatically from the 50’s to the 70’s, using music, culture, and political events. I Am Woman- Helen Reddy I Am Woman, by Helen Reddy, is a call for a generation of women ready to fight for equal rights. This song motivated women to work hard for their rights and to stand up to inequality. During the 1960’s and early 1970’s, women were treated as objects and treated horribly by their husbands. This led to a more serious effort of women's rights movements and a greater effort by women to get their rights. They wanted the same chances as men to get a good education and a good job, and also demanded equal pay for equal work. In this song, Reddy says, “I am woman, hear me roar..In numbers too big to ignore..If I have to, I can do anything..I am strong, I am invincible, I am woman.” The phrase is instilling determination within women that they can do anything because they have the power and are gaining support, so with great numbers and willpower, they can get what they deserve and be treated as equals. This song was also the unofficial anthem of the women’s rights movement, because of its powerful words and message. Ain't To Mountain High Enough- Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell This song is from 1970s when schools were told to integrate people of different colors. The inflation and prices were up, and life was difficult especially for people with color. The song aims at overcoming difficulties in daily life. This song reflects certain rules of society such as it support for school integration and revoking the laws “separate but equal”. It supported the racial integration of schools and busses. In 1971, the court case Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education ruled that the school district must reach racial balance. The case involved the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District. In this district, 29% of the student body were African American. The Court took the final step toward making busing a part of school desegregation plans. What's Going On- Marvin Gaye The song What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye was released on May 21st, 1971. The song was written in the backdrop of a soldier returning from the Vietnam world. When the American soldiers returned home from World War 2, they were greeted as heroes. However, when the soldiers from Vietnam war returned, they were mistreated. Many people spit at these soldiers and called them rude names. The mistreatment of the Vietnam soldiers was partly due to the Vietnam War’s unpopularity. There were lot of protests against the war. In the song Marvin Gaye says, “Don’t punish me with brutality, talk to me.” This verse talks about police brutality and violence against anti-war protesters. On March 4th 1970, Antonia martinez was shot and killed by a policeman while watching and participating in the anti-Vietnam War protest. After this, there were even more acts of police brutality. The acts of police brutality did not stop until after the Vietnam War ended. This song highlights the concerns of a soldier who has returned from war and is disturbed by the actions of law enforcement officers against citizens of his country who were exercising their right to protest. After the Goldrush- Neil Young After the Goldrush, by Neil Young, is another song about the change of American culture and American’s attitudes toward nature and society. Neil Young was an advocate for the environment, which may have influenced him to write this song. In this song, Young says that as a human race, we abuse Mother Nature. In the first verse he talks about the “good times” before corruption and hunger for money ruined mother nature and human nature. The verse, “ I dreamed I saw the knights In armor coming, Saying something about a queen. There were peasants singing and Drummers drumming And the archer split the tree. There was a fanfare blowing To the sun That was floating on the breeze.” He has a positive attitude when talking about the medieval times, which we can assume is the time from the use of knights in armor, queen, peasants and so on. He uses words like “dream” and “singing” to show that those times were better than now, the 70’s. Then he says “"Look at Mother Nature on the run in the nineteen seventies,”, meaning that humans are ruining the balance of nature with pollution, deforestation, acid rain, increasing usage of natural resources, and possible threat of nuclear war. Young says that we have come to a time in society where we are destroying nature for money and to increase our businesses. In the last verse, it all ends with nature ending badly. The main message of this song was to tell Americans that if we do not control ourselves, we will run out of resources and have nothing left at the end. The change from the roaring 20's to the 1930's was very difficult for the whole nation. The Great Depression and World War II brought great political, social, and economic changes to America. The age of carefree flappers and drinkers came to an end as the US sought to repair itself and prepare for war. Women played a great role in this change, which also led for them to be viewed differently in society. We will be focusing on White and African American women. Great Depression The roaring 20's were a period of economic growth and transition after the war. Wages for most workers increased, while stock prices went up as well. This all came to an end after the great market crash in late 1929, and more than 3 million people lost their jobs, leaving many families suffering. While most men lost their jobs, women, who were teachers, nurses, and domestic workers, didn't have a hard time finding or keeping their jobs, for the most part. This is because these jobs were still necessary and important to keep society healthy and functioning. Although women were payed significantly less compared to men, women wages were necessary to family survival. More than 10 million women throughout the nation had jobs outside the home. This caused issues with men, because they now viewed women as stealing their jobs. There was a great amount of unemployed men who argued against all of these women having jobs while they just sat at home jobless. This impacted Roosevelt's decision to make a formal policy, as a part of the New Deal, against hiring women. Eleanor Roosevelt tried protesting against this, but she failed. Many New Deal job programs cast women in traditional housekeeping roles. There were also camps operated by the Federal Emergency Relief Association (FERA) that taught young women household schools. They also made goods such as canned foods, mattresses, blankets, and clothing for the families in need. Other federal agencies paid women significantly less than men, or hired a man over a woman. These programs were formed to keep women in domestic jobs so that men could have other jobs that women were "taking over." American women had a hard time at home as well, because of the sharp budget cuts due to the national economic crisis. They were still responsible for feeding and clothing the children at home. Women had to develop money saving techniques. They began sewing more clothes at home, rather than buying it from stores. They also canned fruits and vegetables instead of buying fresh food all the time and also started buying the cheapest food products. This led to malnutrition and disease, which increased the amount of poverty for families. Financial insecurity and stress led to many problems in husband-wife relationships. Due to tight budgets, families couldn't spend much money on leisure-time activities, which led to more tension between the couples and less relaxation time (so more anger and stress). Many husbands left their families and many people didn't even get married because they couldn't afford starting a family, which also lead to a decrease in child birth. There was also an increase in larger households where extended family moved in to share housing to reduce their individual costs. World War 2 During the 1940's, the role of women changes dramatically. Because men went off to fight World War 2, women had to take their place at work. Between 1940 and 1945, the female percentage of the U.S. workforce increased from 27 percent to 37 percent, and by 1945 about 1 out of every 4 married women worked outside of their home. In 1942, organizations like the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) and Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Services (WAVES), were established to authorize women to serve in the US Navy. Eleanor Roosevelt and women's rights groups asked for women to be given war positions, and in 1942, after seeing the improvement of the British using women in the army, general George Marshall supported the idea of opening a women's branch in the army. Women who served in the Women’s Air-force Service Pilots were later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, but in 2010. Back at home, women also worked in factories to produce weapons and artillery for the war, and blankets, clothing, and food packages for the soldiers. Women in America also helped rally up support for the war. One example was Rosie the Riveter. She was used in propaganda campaign as a recruitment tool and symbolized working women in America during the war. She stressed the patriotic need for women to participate in the war efforts and join the workforce. Even with the great amount of women workers, women were still payed less then the men who were still home. In the 1950's, the men came back from the war and wanted their jobs back, but women wanted to keep their jobs. Some people worried that because the women weren’t at home, the children were being neglected. Roosevelt then made a New Deal policy that taught women domestic work, encouraging them to stay at home and work, so the men could have jobs back. Women's Rights In the period from 1930-1950 women were more considered as "household" figures. It was thought women would compete with men and take away their ability to run homes. Women who worked saw a huge disparity in the wages as compared to men. In the 1930's more women joined the workforce than men, because employers were willing to hire women at half the wage they would pay to men. During this period women's rights were limited. In public places they were constantly judged by their actions, e.g. women drinking were considered "undignified", women showing affection in public was considered "embarrassing." When it came to voting the 19th Amendment gave the women the right to vote, however it was limited to white women. During the period 1930-1950, Women had to struggle to enter professional sports. In 1943, the United States founded the All- American Girls Professional Baseball League. Off course, this was only open to white women, not African Americans or any other ethnic culture. Women had to fight the barriers of sex discrimination and segregation. In 1948, Alice Coachman became the first African-American women to win an Olympic gold medal for high jumping. This was a big achievement for African Americans. African American Women Great Depression African American women faced great difficulty during the Great Depression, especially finding jobs. Due to the Great Depression, many Americans lost their jobs. Because women had taken over male jobs, males argued against this and policies were formed to return women back to domestic jobs. White women then started working in homes, which most African American women had. This made the number of jobs available to African American women reduce, so they had difficulty finding them. African Americans were already in a poor economic situation, and the Great Depression didn't help. African American women (and men) were the first to be laid off from their work. They had an unemployment rate that was 2-3 times higher than white Americans. African American women had a hard time feeding and clothing their children. They couldn't find work, and if they did, they had to work more because they were paid less per hour. Their families were in greater poverty and on top of that, received less charity compared to white people. Many soup kitchen excluded African American families. World War II In the roaring 20's, African American culture greatly impacted society and American culture. However, during 1930-1950's, America was more whitewashed and African Americans were not portrayed as much in the media. While white women portrayed ideal femininity and home life in media or in propaganda for World War II, African American women were ignored. They weren't included in portraying an American women, which shows that America during this time, still didn't see them as equals. African American women played a great role in helping out with the war effort. President Franklin Roosevelt signed an Executive order that banned racial discrimination in the defense industries and civil service jobs. It wasn't enforced that much, but employers started hiring Africans when the white workers became exhausted. This led to an increase in job opportunities for African American men and women. There was 20% decrease in the number of African American women working domestic jobs during the war time. African American women had it worse in the workplace because they faced racial and gender discrimination. They had to use separate bathrooms and had the lowest paying, but most difficult jobs. Most of the dangerous and over-exhausting jobs were given to African American women, and they were usually given night shifts and cleaning jobs. Some jobs that African American women had were janitors in factories, building weapons for war, and some even became soldiers in the army. Overall, during the 1930-1950's, the role of women in the workforce changed greatly due to the Great Depression, but more during World War 2. Women had to take over jobs while men went abroad to fight in the war. This time period brought social change to women, however not much because the whole country was busy with the war efforts and producing weapons and equipment back home. They were paid less, however it instilled courage in women, and in the nation, that women could do "men" jobs and were capable to stay in the workforce. Compared to the 1920's, the status of African American women (and Africans in general) decreased. During the 20's and Harlem Renaissance their culture was appreciated and very famous. This changed in the 1930-50's when the nations focus changed from partying to economic depression to war efforts. Citation:
Lamphier, P. A. (2017). Women in American History: A Social, Political, and Cultural Encyclopedia and Document Collection (Vol. 1) (R. Welch, Ed.). Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO. pages 239-358 Before the 1900's, women mainly worked in the home, doing domestic work, such as taking care of the household and children. They did not have a great voice in political matters and were not treated as equals to men. However, the early twentieth century, 1900-1920, brought great change for American women. It brought greater independence, more educational opportunities, and more social rights. The Women's Suffrage Movement grew tremendously during the 1900's, which led to greater equality between genders and later, in 1920, the right for women to vote. World War I also brought great change to how society viewed women. With women having to step into the jobs of men who left to fight for war, society began to see women as more responsible, and realized that they could do the jobs. The war and women's suffrage movement both brought great change for women in the early twentieth century politically, economically, and socially. Education This time period brought a rise of higher education for American women. The women's suffrage movement sought to gain equal education rights in the United States. They argued that the only fundamental differences between women and men were socially created ones, and because of this, women should be offered the same extensive and practical education that was offered to men. After several battles and oppositions, they were finally granted the right to be educated through government acts. This led to the opening of women's colleges, because there were still many schools that were not willing to teach women in higher education levels. This was still a great achievement, because now women had the opportunity to continue into higher education. Because of this new opportunity, women began to continue their education and became teachers, doctors, and even lawyers. Economic During the 1900's, more and more women began to join the workforce. By 1900, 18.8% of women were in the workforce, and by 1920, this increased to about 24%. This shows that during the time period of 1900 to 1920, women were given more independence in that more women were allowed to leave the household to work. The booming American industry allowed for women to find jobs in factories and mills, while others became teachers, nurses, typists, and sales clerks. There were also a few women who furthered their careers in science, medicine, and law, which were then considered "male careers", due to women receiving higher education. After the start of World War I, women had to step into the jobs of men when they left to fight the war. Women helped make airplane and automotive parts, became truck drivers, and even police officers. There was a high demand of building jobs, such as building ships and ammunition. Even when the men came back from war, women continued to stay in the workforce. Social In the 1920's people began to focus more on entertainment rather than work. This was because it was after the war and people were all about celebrating. Many people, including women, went to jazz clubs, drank, smoked cigarettes, and dated freely. It seems that women completely changed during this decade. During the 20's, flappers, young women who wore short flappy dresses, and had a reputation of drinking, smoking, and partying all the time. They were seen as rebels, because it was not normal for a women to wear such short clothing and drink, smoke, and date so freely. Society believed that women should remain conservative and act mannerly because it was thought of as proper and subordinate to men. Political The women's suffrage movement began before the Civil War, however, its greatest accomplishments took place during the 1900's. During World War 1, women took over men’s jobs because men were at war. These jobs were usually dangerous and meant only for men. Some examples of jobs taken over by women were: engineering, farmers, and heavy lifting such as building ships. When women took over men's jobs, this lead the women to believe that they were equal to men. More jobs were open for women after the war. In the 1920’s suffrage movements emerged and the first generation of college-educated women entered professions. One of the most famous suffrage movement was the National American Woman Suffrage Association. This suffrage movement believed that women should be allowed to vote. They also believed that women’s goodness made them necessary for politics. On August 18th, 1920, the 19th Amendment was added to the US Constitution giving women the right to vote. The 19th Amendment boosted women’s confidence, made them feel less like property, and helped women to stand up for themselves. Citation
Coppens, L. M. (2000). What American Women Did, 1789-1920: A Year-by-Year Reference. McFarland. The role of woman in the 19th century did not change much from the 18 century. Their status did vary based on their social class. The higher their social class was the better status they had and the better opportunities they had. Their class determine their responsibilities, their status, and their "freedoms."
Lower Class White Women Lower class women were often from poor families. They had to work to make money for their families because their families could not afford to survive on their own. Their jobs included working for high class families, doing household jobs such as cleaning and cooking. They also worked as laundresses, seamstresses or nurses. Young unmarried women often worked in mills. These women were mainly between the age of 16 and 25. They were usually paid $1.25, which was a lot for women during this time period. Married women would do their Jobs, and would have to come home and take care of their household and families. These women would work 24/7, which often lead to them being sick. Because of this there was a very low life expectancy for working-class women back then than today. There were also many women from other countries who came to the United States looking for better opportunities. Most immigrants hope to buy and live on small farms of their own. Immigrant women did not usually work in heavy industries but they became a part of the lowest class of industrial labor. They would work in mills and factories, producing textiles, clothing, food, and appliances. Upper Class White Women Upper-class white girls grew up pampered and in luxury. They would often have nannies to take care of them. However this changed when they got married. A married woman would have many responsibilities such as taking care of the plantation and their own households. They would have to nurse slaves, make their clothes, oversee food preparation, and supervise work on the plantation. They were, however, better off than lower class white women in that they had slaves to do and to help with their housework. Many would also have nannies to look after their children. Upper-class white women enjoyed many luxuries that lower class women could not. This included knitting, painting, and other luxurious activities. African-American Women Many African-American women were enslaved during the 19 century. These female slaves mainly worked in the house and did housework or were nannies for their masters children. They would do housework such as cooking and cleaning. However there were some African-American women who worked on the plantation. After working for their masters, and they would go back to their slave quarters and do the housework for their own homes. Many African-American women were also separated from their husbands. They were separated through trade. Most African-Americans could not read or write, however there were a few who could. Free African-American women live mainly in the north. They escaped through the underground railroad to go to the north for better opportunities. Escaping to the north gave these African-Americans a chance to receive education and chance at paid work. Although African-American women were treated poorly in society, they had more "freedom" than white women in that they were more likely to get a job outside the home. Civil War and Women During the Civil War women played a very active role in their households and in local political activities. Some women disguised as men to go fight in the war, while others gathered support in their cities and took care of the household while their family members went off to fight in war. They took care of the plantations, children, and worked in factories to produce ammunition and goods for the war. Many women were actively involved in the war itself. There were several women spies and nurses who would take care of injured soldiers. Overall there was a new respect for women, due to their active role in society while they're male family members were at war. They were seen as responsible and capable of doing work men normally would. Southern slave holding women also had to change their lifestyles after the war. Many slaves were freed after the Civil War, so the slaveholding women had to start doing work for their households on their own. In general women during the 19th century had little to no political rights, could not vote, did not receive a great education, and were seen as inferior to men in society. Because of their lack of education, they were seen as under educated and were not given the same job opportunities in political rights as men. However the Civil War did bring great change to women during this time period. In conclusion, the role of women did not change in the 18 century to the early 19 century, until after the Civil War where they were well respected and society due to their active role in the Civil War. As you may have noticed from our previous blog post, the status of women has improved throughout the centuries, and will probably continue to do so. Hymowitz, Carol, and Michaele Weissman. A History of Women in America. New York: Bantam , 1978. Google Books. During the early 18th century, the role of women in American society did not change much from the 17th century. Their lives remained centered in the domestic realm, working in the home and taking care of the family. Women in 18th Century were taught little except domestic duties and religion - any education given was designed to further these ends. The American Revolution, taking place around mid-eighteenth century, led to some changes for women in society. After seeing the increased role of women during the revolution, women were given respect for their efforts, leading to a new way to be seen by men in society.
Throughout the 18th century, marriage was still the ideal for men and women. It was believed that marriage helped a husband keep a woman under control, so that they don't become fee-spirited and so they can learn to become real women. The concept of love marriage became more popular during this time. This led to a stronger bond between husband and wife, leading to happy and stable families, which is a key element in the formation of stable and orderly societies. The transatlantic trade brought goods, slaves, as well as ideas to the colonies which induced Americans to see women and marital roles differently than previous generations had. The idea of finding "true love" influenced eighteenth century women to delay marriage until they found a man they desired. By the end of the 18th century, most marriages were seen as a partnership, rather than as a hierarchical structure, because of the ideas brought over from other geographical areas and cultures. Eighteenth-century women mainly worked in fields that required some type of domestic work. Some jobs included cooking, childcare, spinning, making clothing, and nursing sick families. Women worked these jobs because it was easier for them to work in a job in which they had experience in. However, their economic activity increased during the revolution. Many women were patriotic during the war and permeated their patriotism in political, civil, and domestic life. Some women participated in boycotts, helped the US spy on the British, and even cooked and took care of American soldiers. They would protest on products like tea and cloth, both significant products they used in the home. This led for them to start making their own cloth, which eventually helped specializes the women clothing manufacture workforce in America. At home, they took care of the agricultural work and took care of the house work and family while the husbands were away. Women were very helpful in taking care of situations at home and participating in war efforts while their male family members were away at war, which helped them develop a more respected image in society. While women did not have much significance in other areas, religion was an aspect where women held positions of dignity and respect. During the series of revival, the Great Awakening, many women started going to churches, participating in religious events, and even created new sects of Christianity. This exposure to the religion led women to become more involved with Christianity and eventually led to women holding respectable positions in religion. They became active in Methodist and Baptist churches. Although women were not allowed to preach messages to the public, they had a voice and vote, surprising, in church affairs. The opportunities for a woman's education change dramatically during the 18th century. A woman's role was centered in the domestic sphere, which meant she would raise and teach the kids. The education of a woman became a priority, as they were know thought to be the best suited to educate the future generations of America. Many teachers were women, so it was necessary for them to get the proper education so that they could teach the future citizens and politician of America. This also led to an increase of women as teachers. Women began to read and write. Some wrote books, while others became musicians or artists. This increase of literacy led to an increase of job opportunities for women of the 18th century. The role of women religiously, economically, and educationally changed dramatically during the 18th century. The 1700's brought many new opportunities for women in jobs, as well as great respect in society. In a marriage, women were treated better and treated more equal to the male counterpart due to ideology brought over from other countries, especially from Europe. Marriage relationships were closer knit, leading to a stable family and society. Most of this great change happened after the American Revolution, after society saw the important effort put in by women while their husbands went to war. In general, the eighteenth century brought great change for the status of women in society. Smith, Merril D. Women's Role in Eighteenth Century America. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Google Books. 2010. Web. 13 Jan. 2017. The role of women did not change much during the 17th century. Women were still housewives, taking care of the household and children. They were not allowed to have professions, such as lawyers, doctors, or teachers. Women took care of the household while their husbands worked outside of the home. Although the role of women in society did not change, the social class of women became more important in determining their job in society.
During the 1600's, women mainly stayed in the house. They cared for the children and did household work, such as washing clothes, cooking food, and making sure the house was in stable condition. Young girls were allowed to go to school and get their basic education done. Before the 17th century, women were expected to stay in the household. Many were not allowed to even leave the house. Now, they had the privilege to learn basic reading and writing skills, which was a new opportunity for women. After finishing their primary education, the young girls were taught how to be housewives wives and mothers. Their mothers taught them how to work in the house and be a proper woman. Politically, women were not allowed to be involved. They were not allowed to own land, only white males could. They also had no say in political decisions. Women were not permitted to hold political positions in office. Although women during the 17th century were permitted to get a basic education, which was a new freedom, they still mostly stayed in the house to care for the family, while the men made the income for the household. The social class of a woman had a great impact on her role in society. Higher class and middle class women did not play a role in society outside of the house. They took care of their children. Most upper class households had servants working for them, so they did not have to do much house work. In their free time, they did pottery and knitting. Lower class women, on the other hand, had more "freedom" in a way. They were allowed to leave the house and work at small jobs. These women had to take care of the house, their families, and most of the time work at a job. The lower class families did not have much money coming into the household, so sometimes the whole family, including females had to work in order to survive. Upper class women already had enough money coming into the household, so they did not have to work. Lower class women sometimes had to work otherwise their families would not be able to afford basic necessities. Women were mainly domestic during the 17th century, working in the home while their husbands worked in their fields or in factories. However they were allowed to get their basic education before being trained how to be housewives and mothers. The social class of a women also impacted their role in the household. Some families didn't have enough money to survive, so women had no choice but to work and make money for the family. As the years went on, the role of women in society became more significant, but women still lacked the basic freedoms that women have today. The role of women in Europe in the 1400's and 1500's was very important in laying the foundation down for the role of women in America. During this time period, people began moving from Europe to the America's. The Europeans brought their culture and values over to the new lands, which included the social structure. Many people came over to escape religious persecution or to raise their status in society, however the status of women remained the same as it was in Europe for a great period of time.
Working Women in English Society, 1300-1620 by Marjorie Keniston McIntosh analyzes the role of women in Great Britain during the 14th-17th century. (We will be focusing mainly on the 15th and 16th century.) During the 1400's, in social terms, women were expected to marry and were still seen as bearers and the raisers of children. Women taught the children practical skills that they would need in their lives, such as how to behave in society. They did all the work at home, which included attending physical and emotional needs of family, providing care to the children, and cooking and maintaining the house. This encouraged men to continue work outside the home. At all ages, women were encouraged to stay at home and do their household chores, remain loyal to their fathers or husbands and support others. The social class of a woman was determined by her husband's job. If he was an aristocrat, she was seen as from a higher class, merchant families were middle class, and so on. Women were also able to re-marry if they became widowed. Before, a widow was expected to die with her husband, at his funeral, or be taunted by society for the rest of her life. The idea that it was now acceptable for a woman to marry gave women a tad bit more freedom, in the sense that her life would not be miserable after the death of her husband. During this time period, especially during the 1500's, the economy began shifting from agricultural to industrial. Many women, mainly from villages, still stayed at home while their husbands worked, but some women, mainly city women, became heavily involved in the market. Women began going out to not only to buy products for the house, but also to generate some income for the families, especially younger women. Some women provided services and others sold clothing, food, or drinks. This was accepted by society, because they were bringing income into the house, while still fulfilling their duties at home. While the role of women in society increased greatly during the 15th and 16th centuries, the status of women socially did not change much. In the workplace, men did not want women to take their jobs or for women to become too powerful by granting them too much freedom. Women were still sub-ordinate to men, although they did have more freedom economically and socially. They were able to go out of the house more and interact with society and earn some money for the family, while also given the choice to re-marry after becoming widowed. Society did reduce their strictness on the behavior and freedom of women, however their status in society did not change much, as this was the beginning of the new role of women in society. |
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June 2017
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