Women throughout American History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Women throughout American History - Essay Example Perhaps the most essential, women fought for and to a large extent realized a reassessment of conventional notions of their duties in society. In addition, women in America were perceived to be second class citizens and in a number of occasions to be used and owned by members of the male population. Even though these views still persist in several regions in the world, women have accomplished tremendous progress with regard to equal rights. These civil rights were most notably established in the 19th and 20th centuries with noteworthy laws, for example, the Married Women’s Property Laws enacted during the 19th century and the 19th Amendment. The most significant accomplishment was realized in the 1920 elections when a large number of American women were allowed to exercise their rights to vote for the initial time. It took tremendous efforts of activists and reformers and approximately a century to win this right. Even though the consequences were astounding, the campaign was extremely demanding. Nevertheless, in the final part of 1920, the 19th Amendment of the constitution was formally approved, incorporating American women and for the first time asserting that like men, women, ought to have all rights and responsibilities that is associated with being an American citizen (Hemming and Savage 48). This paper will look at how women have suffered for numerous years, but the efforts they have put in have shown throughout history. From the early periods women have been specifically perceived as an innovative source of human existence. However, historically, women in America have been regarded both as a major source of evil and temptation, and mentally mediocre to their male counterparts. In contrast, the attitude towards members of the female population in the Eastern part of the world was initially extra approving. For instance, in ancient India, women were not denied of individual freedoms or property rights by marriage. Nevertheless, in America, children of the male gender were considered to be of significance than female children. On the other hand, when women were allowed intellectual and individual freedom, they made tremendous realizations. In the middle periods nuns played a significant part in Europe’s religious life. In America, women made significant contributions towards the fight for education for American women (Rosenbloom 37). Emma Willard established the Troy Female Seminary in 1821. This was the foremost American educational institution to give females a college education identical to that offered to men. Also, in 1841, Oberlin College was the institution that gave the bachelor’s degree to the first three women, Mary Caroline Rudd, Elizabeth Smith Prall, Mary Hosford, in America, and in 1862 it gave a degree to Mary Jane Patterson, an African America woman. Women in America were for a long time perceived as biologically inferior to men, delicate, and not able to engage in activities needing intellectual or muscular development. In preindustrial America, domestic activities were left for women and females, leaving what were considered as significant activities, for example, plowing and hunting to men. This did not take notice of activities, for example, taking care of children, washing clothes, and milking cows which needed sustained, burdensome labor. Also, the American community regarded the natural biological responsibility of women as their foremost social responsibility as well. This made middle-class children to learn from their mother’s example that caring for children, cleaning, and cooking was the responsibilities required of her when she became an adult