Women’s Suffrage

Gender equality seems to be a big issue in world history. It dates all the way back to the beginning of civilization. Women were expected to restrict their sphere of interest to their home and family, not encouraged to obtain a real education or pursue a professional career, did not have the right to own their own property after marriage, keep their own wages, sign a contract, and denied the right to vote.

Due to these ongoing restrictions in a democracy like the United States, women came together in the 1800’s and started The Women’s Suffrage Movement.

There are two noble women that fought for their rights during The Women’s Suffrage Movement:

Susan B Anthony – February 15, 1820                     Elizabeth Cady Stanton – November 12, 1815

        In 1848, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott organized the Seneca Falls Convention. The convention gathered women reformers and issued a “Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions” inspired by the Declaration of Independence. In 1851, Stanton and Anthony met and became life long friends. They both worked together and found the National Woman Suffrage Association in 1869.

In 1872, Anthony  voted in the presidential election illegally and got arrested and fined $100 — which she never paid. Anthony died on March 13, 1906, women still did not have the right to vote. But her efforts created the 19th amendment which gave women the right to vote; 14 years after her death in 1920.

The Image above developed during World War 2. The woman is named “Rosie the Riveter” and the image served as an icon for women who worked in factories and ship yards during the war. Even after women were granted the right to vote; they still had to fight for their equality. This still goes on today, as women aren’t getting equal pay as men. It seems like a stereotype that started in early civilization still exists today; that women aren’t as supreme as men.