Introduction
Our study will mainly rely on the history of women’s rights in the US and England. The legal position of women in the two countries has significantly changed over the past 200 years. We are using the two countries because these changes took place concurrently. The preliminary conditions were also the same since the legal systems in the US and England are based on the common law (except in several states). Changes in women’s rights and lifestyle over the last two centuries can be categorized into four phases. The first phase is the first half of the 19th century and the second phase is the second half of the 19th century. The third phase is the first half of the 20th century. Lastly, the fourth phase is the second half of the 20th century to date.
Women in the 19th Century
During the first half of the 19th century, women had very few rights if they held any. Women were regarded as men’s property and had no inherent rights. They were not allowed to own property or sign any contract. A woman’s property would automatically become the husband’s property immediately after they got married. The husband would do whatever he deemed fit with the property without consulting her wife. Married women could not own property until the first law was passed in 1870. Even after the law was passed, women were only allowed to own property not exceeding 200 pounds. Nonetheless, women and children could not be prosecuted for any crime. The husband was responsible for them (Bertocchi, 2011, P. 536). Only husbands had the legal right to divorce their wives. Even after the divorce, children were only allowed to be in the custody of their fathers. Husbands could legally break up with their wives on the grounds of infidelity. On the contrary, women could not sue their husbands on the same ground until the early 1920s. Furthermore, husbands had the legal right to punish or beat their women until a law was passed in 1923 (Doepke, Tertilt & Voena, 2011, p. 2).
Unmarried women had no status in a society since marriage was the only career accorded to women. Unmarried women who belonged to the middle and lower class either remained poor or were only allowed to become private teachers (governesses) for children of the high and mighty. Even after the labor law was passed in the late 19th century, women were still not accorded equal employment rights as men did. Women who worked in industrial units and mines were paid much less as compared to men for the same work. The first successful equal pay resolution was won by the Women’s Trade Union League in 1888 under the leadership of Clementina Black (Doepke, Tertilt & Voena, 2011, p. 2). Once a woman was married, she was expected to conceive after every two years. Family planning was a foreign term during that era. The period was also clouded by the high mortality rate among children and women. Childbirth was extremely risky because many doctors did not practice safe methods and often spread infections from one woman to another. Most homes were unsanitary and chilly. Almost all house chores were done manually and were very difficult. Women had to make sure that their door fronts were meticulously clean because they were judged by the level of hygiene in their homes. They used coal or firewood for cooking (Doepke, Tertilt & Voena, 2011, p. 3; Bertocchi, 2011, P. 536).
Women were confined to physically restrictive dresses. They wore stiff corsets to enhance their figure. Eye-catching figures were women of size 12 on the waist and size 16 on the hips. Women also had to maintain long hair. Women who had their hair pinned up in an attractive knot were regarded as wife material. Such hairstyle signified maturity and an end to girlhood. Pregnancy out of wedlock was highly prohibited and dreaded. Sex education was unheard of. Most girls who got pregnant outside marriage often committed suicide. Some were forced to give up their babies for adoption. In some countries, mothers were sent to prison, psychiatric hospitals, or workhouses. Last but not the least, women had no voting right and right to hold any political office. During the second phase, women started to gain social and economic rights. These rights included the right to own properties, the right to terminate the marriage, and the right to care for children after separation (Doepke, Tertilt & Voena, 2011, p. 3).
Women in the 20th century
During the third phase, women were accorded political rights, these were the right to vote in political elections, the right to vie for political seats, and other gender empowerment measures. The political rights were prompted by suffrage movements in the late 19th century. Women also started to hold key positions in organizations and institutions. Finally, women gained total freedom and equality in the job market. The new rights enabled women to start embracing modern fashion and get rid of veils and corsets. The law also prohibited violence against women, gave them freedom of movement and the use of contraceptives for family planning. Total equality in the labor market was attained in the 60s and 70s when the US and England enacted two major labor laws. These laws were the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Pay Acts of 1970 respectively. Even though equality in the labor market was attained, there have been several cases where women were discriminated against in the labor market up to now. As a result, equality in the labor market is still a challenge even in the modern era. Nonetheless, numerous strides have been made in this sector (Doepke, Tertilt & Voena, 2011, p. 10).
The fourth phase also witnessed a considerable expansion of women’s authority over their bodies. Marital rape is currently regarded as a grave offense. Women have rights to birth control measures and the freedom to dress in any way they deem fit. The fourth phase has also witnessed the liberalization of divorce laws (Doepke, Tertilt & Voena, 2011, p. 10). However, these laws are currently being blamed for the high number of divorce cases in the US and the United Kingdom. Also, the number of single parents is increasing day after day. Besides, the current divorce laws that allow for equal sharing of property have weakened the institution of marriage. Currently, scandalous individuals are luring others into marriage to get rich. Nevertheless, certain rights have had a positive impact on society. At the moment, the law highly protects our sisters and mothers. The present labor laws have ensured the redistribution of resources from men to women. The property laws have eliminated inefficiencies in the economy and enhanced productivity in human capital. Last but not the least, women’s suffrage rights have had a considerable effect on the economy and the provision of social services (Greenwood & Guner, 2009, P. 897).
Conclusion
In summary, it is fair to state that there have been significant changes in the lives of women in the past 200 years. They currently enjoy total freedom. The freedom enjoyed by women may have future ramifications. For example, in the next 100 years, we may have a high number of unmarried couples. This may happen because most women will be financially stable and independent. Besides, men will fear marrying these women because they will not be able to control them. Lastly, the excess freedom given to women may lead to deviation from religious and moral teachings.
References
Bertocchi, G. (2011). The Enfranchisement of Women and the Welfare State. European Economic Review, 55, 535 – 553.
Doepke, M., Tertilt., & Voena, A. (2011). The Economics and Politics of Women’s Rights. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Greenwood, J., & Guner, N. (2009). Social Change: The Sexual Revolution. International Economic Review, 51(4), 893–923.