Women's History Month: the Good and the Bad
Avery Calhoun
Women’s History Month began on Tuesday, March 1st in the United States. This month is dedicated to acknowledging and applauding the evolution of women’s rights throughout the years.
In the 1800s, the fight for women’s rights began when Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton fought for women's right to vote. Flashing forward, the 1920’s cultural symbol, the flapper, represented the first generation of independent American women. Flappers expressed themselves through politcal and sexual freedom, a turning point for women. Some time later, women like Rosa Parks fought for not only women’s rights but also civil rights. Recently, we saw our first serious female candidate for president, Hillary Clinton. These inspirational women paved the way for gender equality. Even though women’s rights have come a long way, there are still many changes to be made. The struggle for justice is nowhere near done.
A speech given by Elizabeth Cady Stanton made incredible strides in the women’s rights movement. Stanton’s speech made it possible for married women to obtain rights to their wages and equal guardianship of their children in 1860. In 1863, Susan B. Anthony and Stanton formed the Women’s National Loyal League, acquiring 300,000 petition signatures for immediate emancipation. Stanton went even further when she became co-editor of the newspaper, The Revolution, devoted to women’s rights. The 19th Amendment was made possible because of Stanton’s strenuous work.
World War 1 had concluded, and the Roaring Twenties began with a new era of consumerism and prosperity. An iconic symbol is made by young women with short-hair, red-lips, and the signature “garçonne look”—the flapper. In this decade, white women could vote, enjoy personal freedom, and join the workforce. Women contributed to the new consumer culture in America. Still, this so-called equality remained fraudulent; women were unable to fully benefit from the social changes the 1920s brought. With the nation going through economic growth and urbanization, an increasing amount of women started joining the workforce. Yet, this did not change gender roles. Women were only able to work as clerical workers, factory workers, store clerks, and domestic servants. The average weekly wage for men in 1927 was $29.35, compared to only $17.34 for women (America’s Women, Gail Collins.) Working came with discrimination and wage inequalitly. Women were unable to further inequality through politics. Politics were unhelpful, as women were not allowed to gain too much power within their political parties. The flapper lifestyle also did not change the fact that marriage was still the expected goal for women. Although flappers are often thought of as the symbol of female freedom, that is sadly not the reality.
An issue with the month itself is that it leaves out important female activists. During this month, Native American women who fought for climate justice, black women that advocated for civil rights and helped end slavery, and the female suffragists that helped pass the 19th Amendment should be acknowledged. An example of one of these women that is often forgotten is Sojourner Truth. Her "Ain't I a Woman?" speech, spoken at a women's rights convention in 1851, challenged beliefs. Sojourner Truth was an African American missionary, abolitionist, women’s rights activist, and author. Before all this, she was born Isabella Baumfree in 1797 to enslaved parents. She went through many hardships before escaping slavery in 1826. Her speeches captured the attention of many, including President Abraham Lincoln.
In society today, the struggle for equality is still evident. Unrealistic beauty standards and discrimination are being instilled into young females. Women have been given the rights that women like Elizabeth Cady Stanton fought for. Just like Stanton, women today share a fear involving rights. While Stnaton feared not acquiring rights, women today fear losing them. The fear of not knowing if our rights are going to be taken away has been present in recent years, especially with debates over reproductive rights.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the second female judge in the Supreme Court, was an important figure in women’s history. When Ginsburg died on September 18th, 2020, the unease grew more and more. Stigmas such as needing to get married, be a housewife, and have kids still exist. Hillary Clinton might have been the first female nominee for president and Kamala Harris may be the sitting vice president, but there still hasn’t been a female president. There are still sexist advertisements and societal norms that define what the ideal woman should look and act like. There are still many changes that need to be made, and society needs to improve as a whole.
Sources:
America's Women: Four Hundred Years of Dolls, Drudges, Helpmates, and Heroines. Gail Collins
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