Women's Struggle in Fighting Gender Inequality in The Us

Introduction

Jane Addams, Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton are iconic figures who lived at the turn of the century and fought fiercely for a cause they all believed in. They were acutely aware of the discrimination they faced due to their gender and refused to accept it any longer. These pioneering feminists paved the way for further reform, changing the very fabric of society as we know it today.

Women's Struggle in Fighting Gender Inequality in the US

Even though these women were fighting for this worthy cause, many disagreed with their radical views due to the prevailing double standards of the time. Conflicts arose when conservative thinkers, mostly men, failed to understand why women deserved the right to vote, let alone wanted it. There were also many women who were concerned and unsympathetic regarding suffrage. The Seneca Falls Convention, also known as the Woman’s Rights Convention, was held in Seneca Falls, New York, lasting two days, the 19th and 20th of July in 1848. This is where the "Declaration of Sentiments," signed by 68 women and 32 men, was written by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who based it on the United States Declaration of Independence.

When the document helped pass the resolution, it marked a grand movement for attaining the civil, social, political, and religious rights of women. It stated, "that all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights government are instituted, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed" (Stanton, 1848). Despite this, women were denied the right to vote, and it can be argued that denying them this right was a human rights offense. The right to vote is a natural right that comes with citizenship, and denying it based on race, age, or gender denies basic rights, sparking the fight for women's suffrage and the pursuit of equality (Imbornoni, 2007).

Advancements and Setbacks

It wasn’t until after the Civil War in 1868 that the Fourteenth Amendment was passed, granting all citizens the right to vote. However, this did not apply to women. The fight for women's right to vote was a quest for equality, to be recognized as equal contributors to society. Without the vote, women were not represented at the national level, and decisions were made without considering women's needs. By gaining the right to vote, women could change their social and domestic conditions and improve their lives (Imbornoni, 2007).

In 1869, two organizations for promoting women’s suffrage were founded, each with different strategies to achieve the same goal. In May 1869, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton formed the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA), aiming for a Congressional amendment to the Constitution. These women were ready to fight for their beliefs, knowing it would be a tough battle. Meanwhile, in December 1866, Lucy Stone and Henry Blackwell formed the American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA), focusing on gaining voting rights for women through amendments to individual state constitutions. It wasn’t until the 1890s that the NWSA and AWSA merged to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA), the mainstream organization campaigning state by state to obtain voting rights for women (Imbornoni, 2007).

Portrayal in Media

The struggle these women faced is vividly depicted in the movie "Iron Jawed Angels," which portrays young activists risking their lives for justice. The quote, "We're legitimate citizens. We're taxed without representation. We're not allowed to serve on juries, so we're not tried by our peers. It's unconscionable, not to mention unconstitutional. We don't make the laws, but we have to obey them like children" (Iron Jawed Angels, 2004), is powerful and true. Women were citizens but not represented as such, treated like children, unable to vote, work, or pursue their desires. They were restricted to roles society deemed appropriate for them.

The Long Road to Success

It wasn’t until 1916 that the federal woman suffrage amendment, introduced to Congress in 1878, was passed by the House of Representatives and sent to the Senate. After the Senate's review, it went to each state for ratification (Imbornoni, 2007). This process took about forty-one years. Finally, after decades of fighting and protesting, the year 1920 saw the Nineteenth Amendment added to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote (Imbornoni, 2007). The amendment was adopted after thirty-six states ratified it (Imbornoni, 2007).

Global Context

Typically, as in the United States, men were granted the right to vote before women in many countries. This is documented in "The Penguin Atlas of Women in the World" by Joni Seager. By the 1950s, fifty-three countries had granted women the right to vote, thirty years after the United States. However, thirty-three countries had already done so before the United States. The quote, "In reality, the right to vote does not ensure the exercise of that right," highlights that the Fourteenth Amendment, which granted voting rights to citizens, did not include women (Seager, 2008).

Conclusion

The struggle faced by many women was crucial to America's future. It demonstrates that peaceful protest, dedication, and hard work can bring about change. The journey was not easy, and many women who started this movement did not live to see the Nineteenth Amendment introduced. Some might say it was wasted time, questioning why women would want to vote. However, the government and politics are complex, but perhaps it was because these women accomplished a significant feat. Women wanted recognition and to feel appreciated for once in their lives.

References

Imbornoni, A. (2007). Women's Rights Movement in the U.S.: Timeline of Events. In Infoplease. Retrieved from https://www.infoplease.com/us/womens-rights-movement-us-timeline-events

Seager, J. (2008). The Penguin Atlas of Women in the World. Penguin Books.

Stanton, E. C. (1848). Declaration of Sentiments. Seneca Falls Convention.

Iron Jawed Angels. (2004). Directed by Katja von Garnier, HBO Films.