Women Through History

HIS 206: United States History

Women Through History

The time of 1877 through today, women in America have increasingly obtained rights and freedom to their choices and what reason. Back in history, women’s label was a housewife to the changes of today which have degrees far as a doctor, independent business owner and fulfilling the wife/mother duties. This research paper final will be discussing the significant impacts of in the history of women who fought for suffrage for equality. We will review the series of events in timeline history that has changed governing legislation by maintaining the break of stereotypes and prove they are equal to men and have rights to their own body.

The 19th Amendment to gave women the right to vote which took place August 18, 1920. It happened at the US Congress in Washington DC and many states throughout the country such as California, Tennessee, and New York. President Woodrow Wilson was the president who approved it, Senator Emily Blair, and Elizabeth Stanton. Allows women free right to vote. A year prior on May 21, 1919, Congress had cleared to obtain the votes to approve.

Back in 1877, the Amendment proposal was supported that women were working just the same As men even though women were labeled as homemakers. July of 1848 was the start of gatherings with Elizabeth Cady Stanton. “In 1869 two distinct factions of the suffrage movement emerged. Stanton and Anthony created the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA), which directed its efforts toward changing federal law and opposed the 15th Amendment on the basis that it excluded women. (2007, The Women’s Rights Movement)” Ruth McCormick was a future Congressman to assisted the fight for suffrage in 1913. She stated that this county is equal that no one is greater than the other. January 10, 1918, the passing of the rights to vote was granted however they had to wait to make it valid until the war was over. It’s been ongoing fight has been for suffrage and after thirty-six states finally completed the amendment. Women could legally have their voice be heard that changed the demographic government. This amendment is what was needed for women can be understood and treated fairly to vote.

Employment for Women when World War II ended was a continued fight which was around the time of 1945 through 1970 in the whole Nationwide of the USA. Department of Labor for Women noticed that men who did the same job were being paid more than women. This allowed independent women; married women work to provide for their children, buy a home, and support their spouse. Numerous women during World War II had boldly stood out to represent the ionic strength of women from the label of homemakers. Women worked in factories to operate machines, and they were talked into on why their job should end as the war was ending. Jobs were separate by gender and paid much lower even though they worked the same position. In the 1960’s women, teachers and civil servants were first to win equal pay. However, in the late 1960s, the equal pay struggled a bit more. The company Ford Car factory the ladies went on strike because their type of work was not as skillful as the men which causes a tremendous pay amount decrease. The attack went on for about three weeks and agreed to the rate paid to unskilled male workers was 92%. This eventually worked out among the union. Equal Pay Act in 1970 was the first legislation in the world to finally to an end to men and women pay discrimination.

Initiated the Civil Rights Movement was the start on December 1, 1955, Montgomery, AL and her name was Rosa Parks. During this time segregation was written in law and buses were reserved for white people and people of color were to sit in the back of the bus. At times if there weren’t enough seats the black person was made to give up their place. This mainly happened to Rosa Parks as she was sitting down and was told to move along with three other people. She is the only one who refused. The consequences she was fined and arrested. The day of her trial everyone would boycott buses and passed over 30,000 flyers. However, she was still found guilty and fined — this where the appeals were made all the way up the chain to Supreme Court. November 1956 Supreme Court decided that it was unconstitutional for segregation. This allowed not just race be treated equality but shown a robust black woman stood of many unspoken women. Following this ruling, she even faced harassments and severe threats from the boycott. Rosa Parks still supported the Civil Rights movement throughout her life and passed on in 2005 at the age of 92. Rosa wrote an autobiography on her story and won a gold medal.

Roe vs. Wade Abortion Rights that took place in 1973 in Texas in the North District and Washington DC. Jane Roe who was the plaintiff, Henry Wade. Women wanted to right to have the abortion as it’s their body and have the right to decide what’s best for them. Whether they can’t afford it, unwanted pregnancy, etc. Abortions were performed if were high risks and women felt their rights to make decisions freely on determining the outcome of their pregnancy. Women can freely decide on their pregnancy without having an emergency medical diagnosis to be able to get it performed. Women had to quit school, jobs, not obtaining public assistance due to pregnancy. There are Pro-Life and Pro-Choice where people have their opinions however the rights to the women’s bodies allow them to make the executive decision. This provided that form of women choice.

Let’s briefly speak about the history that led up to this event. Abortion was legal in the US before quickening which means before the first movement of the fetus. The time frame would be about four months pregnant. Around 1850s American Medical Association wanted to criminalization for abortion. Moving down the timeline of 1869 where Catholic churches didn’t want any form of abortion at any stage of a woman’s pregnancy. Congress passed in 1873 a law called Comstock law which was to make it illegal to send any forms of medication such a birth control or abortion induced via mail. This is just a few events that led up to women feeling like they were losing their freedom right to do what they want with their own body.

Jane Roe was Norma McCorvey who was women to live in Texas that was in her early 20’s. She became pregnant and wanted to terminate her pregnancy. She has two children prior who she gave up for adoption. The states she lived was legal to perform an abortion if it was life threating issues. Since she wasn’t successful in obtaining an abortion, she sought legal help and went to see Linda Coffee and Sarah Weddington who were Texas attorneys. They wanted to challenge the case of anti-abortion laws. Henry Wade was the district attorney for the County of Dallas. January 22, 1973, effectively legalizing abortion and the women right to an abortion that was protected by the 14th Amendment.

This timeline history that I have gone over is just a few of the many events that took place for women to obtain their rights. The four occasions I have discussed shows the incredible strength they have to ensure too many obstacles they all faced. They fought for rights for themselves, children, families, and race. Review this history timeline; I can only hope that this struggles everyone faced will continue to take a stand for equal rights. We have our children, families, and each other to stand up against the world of non-equality. Racism still plays a big part in our lives today but social media, news, word of mouth and by action. I can only hope and increase my faith that people will open their eyes to see other as humans with the same body parts and not the color of our skins. It’s our character that makes us who we are inside and out. Roe VS Wade took a considerable turning part in women rights to their bodies as each state can mandate how far this right can go. As of last week, New York has made it legal to have abortions right up to birth. Many people will have opinions and women will be judged based on their actions. This is a touchy subject to see how far women’s rights goes and when it pass women’s right however babies right as they are full term. Full-term meaning can survive outside life. The stand women take needs to take into consideration is it right for women and how will impact generation to come. This paper plainly shows the struggle women faced, the judgment, and the strength to continue to the fight. I can only hope I can stand up for something as firmly as they have succeeded in life.

Reference

History, Arts and Archives United States House of Representatives. (n.d). The women’s rights

movement, 1848–1920. Retrieved from http://history.house.gov/Exhibitions-and-

Publications/WIC/Historical-Essays/No-Lady/Womens-Rights/

David Drury, Hartford in World War I. Women in the Factories. Retrieved from

https://library.ccsu.edu/dighistFall16/exhibits/show/industry-ct-ww1/women-in-the-factories

Sanders, V. (2006). Rosa Parks & the Montgomery Bus Boycott. History Review, (55),

3. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.proxy-library.ashford.edu/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=f5h&AN=22275825&site=eds-live&scope=site

Roe VS Wade Retrieved from https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme-court/410/113.html