Introduction
The research will evaluate the involvement of Elite and middle-class British Women in community affairs and the political sphere. Feminism has always characterized women’s involvement in active politics due to unwarranted gender biases and gender-based violence (Abrams). Male chauvinists began to compare women to African American slaves, making women feel that the relationship between the sexes was biased, controlling and dictatorial.
Thesis statement
What is the extent of women’s involvement in politics? In the recent past, women have met heightened opposition in their attempts to engage in politics. In fact, they have not only experienced injuries of their vulnerability but have also been largely battered, sexually molested, abused and to certain extremes killed (Chalus, 673). The changes in views of women’s role and modernity taking center stage have created an upsurge in their involvement in active politics to optimum levels that even men have found unmanageable but acceptable.
Historical Background of Women Involvement in Politics
The abolitionist movement was joined by Quaker abolist men in the effort of Lucretia Mott’s who advocated for women to join it as well. This resulted in learning how to organize and pull the levers of the government with a consequence of teaching women advocacy skills (Chalus, 231).
The revolution which had taken place in the United States has had major effects on the philosophical underpinning of the citizens. The roles of women have changed drastically over the years due to the development of democratic ideals, the idea of republican motherhood was had also been incorporated into the society.
Political philosophy had for long being in the assumption that that republic rests upon virtues of their citizenry, therefore women were refereed to play essential roles to instill values which are conducive to their children and bringing up of a healthy republic. Abigail Adams has a desire that women would be given positions of leadership in the newly formed republic. It was her desire if Ladies would be remembered by him being generous enough to allow them positions of leadership; this would be much different from how ladies had been treated in earlier administrators in politics (Gleadle, 69). She proclaimed that by being in partnership with women and human rights she will not have limited power in politics. However, The Declaration of Independence remained unchanged, stating, “All men are created equal”
Towards Integration in Active Politics
The integration of women in active politics took a slow but dynamic turn with a number of factors influencing the pace and rapport at which it moved. Among the factors included:
- In 1920 there were fewer than two women who were in the Senate but in 1994 the number increased due to continued support of equality of men and women. Representatives in the Senate were also few until 1955 when they increased in number. The current representation is 16 senators and 67 representatives.
- Democratic space-this is evident especially with the dramatic achievement of Hillary Clinton in the 2008 general elections where she got at least 1898 delegates for the Democratic Nomination. In fact, Alaska Governor, Sarah Palin is the first female Republican vice presidential nominee in the year 2008. This has proved women’s worth and ability in holding key positions in the government. Parliamentary representations have earned women’s confidence and quite a number of countries are embracing political equality and participation of women in development issues in their countries (O’Dowd, 28). This is also a booster to women involved in politics.
- National Women’s party and Alice Paul had proposed for an Equal Rights Amendment to be legislated and it was passed by parliament in 1972. Dwight became the first president to honor the proponents of the Equal Rights Amendment although with amendments from the senate which made it powerless hence losing support from its stakeholders. Carolyn reintroduced the ERA in the House of Representatives in the year 2009.
- Revolution-women revolutionized from hardcore initiatives with several protests, matches, liberalism and radical advocacy and representations. New York Radical Women and Robin Morgan planned to protest during the Miss America beauty contest which was held in 1968. In 1970, the Women’s Suffrage Amendment’s ratification was met by civil disobedience. Richard Nixon after meeting heightened resistance on women feminism came to full support of women by helping to terminate sexual discrimination in schools and athletics. He also appointed a commission for the presidency on women and began to make cognizant appointments of women to positions of power disregarding the opposition and ululations of his fellow men.
- Formation of women’s movements- In the 1960s and 1970s, was a fruit of new opportunities and freedoms for women during the Second World War. The war made women do remain mostly in the domestic arena as open gender discrimination was in the air with widespread sexual segregation and harassment. There were increased inequalities in women especially in social roles and education which made women be discontented. When this gained a national outlook, John F. Kennedy formed a commission on the status of women in 1961. The report of the commission was published in 1963 and exposed gravitating extent of gender-based violence and discrimination. This is what prompted the sitting president to sign into law the Equal Pay Pact and also to execute orders terminating these vices. J.F Kennedy established wider networks with feminist groups that campaigned against feminism (Vickery, 116). In the year 1964, an act of civil rights was passed which helped eliminate discrimination against women and guaranteed them total equality in the workforce. This was a milestone in enhancing women’s participation in politics.
Conclusion
In conclusion, many people have championed the fight of women to realize equality in the political arena and Prince Basma had played a major role in it. The prince ensured women partners with the human rights for successful partnership and has actively participated in setting up of women’s rights program called Makana. Prince Basma was in real need to help women and ensure they are empowered culturally, politically, economically, socially and their legal issues and personalities are treated equally as men, therefore she encouraged them to join/form Makana.
She emphasized the importance of women’s involvement in active politics and encouraged that such projects empower women’s electorate and help them in demanding openness and accountability of leadership positions, creating a localized democracy that is charged in action and stalled in the local context. Women should thus remain active participants in the political arena and not passive recipients of political agendas to ensure their representation in all spheres with equality and fair treatment and to challenge men in their involvements.
References
Abrams, Lynn. Ideals of Womanhood in Victorian Britain. 2001. Web.
Chalus, Elaine. Elite Women, Social Politics, and the Political World of Late Eighteenth-century England. The Historical Journal. 2000. Vol. 43, No.3, pp. 669-697.
Chalus, Elaine and Fiona Montgomery. Women in Politics. Women in History: Britain, 1700-1850: An Introduction. New York: Routledge. 2005. Print.
Gleadle, Kathryn. British Women in the Nineteenth Century. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. 2001. Print
O’Dowd, Mary. Women and Patriotism in Eighteen Century Ireland. History Ireland. 2006. Vol. 14, No. 5, pp. 25-30.
Vickery, Amanda. Women, Privilege, and Power: British Politics, 1750 to the Present. Stanford: Stanford University Press. 2001. Print.