Introduction
American history was marked by radical social transformations in public space in the second half of the 19th century. The Age of Enlightenment laid the foundation for reevaluating women as independent individuals capable of participating fully in economic, political, and productive activities on an equal footing with men. Such feminist movements during this period had positive and negative aspects, but at the same time, they laid the foundations and postulates for future generations.
Analysis
The ideas of the Enlightenment and the industrial development of America initiated the rise of the gender struggle for legal equality. Thus, for the first time, women could think of themselves differently to stand up for their legal rights. These ideas began to spread not only in terms of biological equality in nature but also in the concept of the natural capacity of any human being to enjoy political and civil rights in society. The dissemination of such views was a natural step in developing a new society that could no longer hide the injustice and unnaturalness of gender inequality.
Indeed, the fight for women’s rights has yielded positive results. Women wrote, lectured, lobbied, and actively practiced civil disobedience to achieve radical changes in the country’s constitution (Woman Suffrage and the 19th Amendment 1). Women in some states finally gained the right to vote, dispose of their earnings and property, and take custody of children in the event of divorce (Women’s Suffrage in the Progressive Era 1).
However, not every woman supported gender equality, arguing that politics suited women (Women’s Suffrage in the Progressive Era 1). Although the number of female workers increased over time, wages were still significantly lower than those earned by men. Moreover, men were more likely to hold higher positions, while women worked more as servants or in other low-skilled jobs.
Conclusion
To summarize, the feminist movements that emerged in the second half of the 19th century marked the first time women began to fight openly for their rights, despite the still strong influence of patriarchal ideas in society. They achieved considerable economic and political gains by being able to vote or dispose of property independently of their husbands’ opinions. However, women continued to be mistreated, treated as low-skilled, and paid accordingly.
Works Cited
“Woman Suffrage and the 19th Amendment.” The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 2021. Web.
“Women’s Suffrage in the Progressive Era.” Library of Congress. Web.