Women’s Rights in Society Essay Example

trials concluded and all individuals accused of witchcraft were freed from incarceration. Many women were profoundly impacted during this era, facing accusations of harboring the devil within them that ultimately led to their deaths. Gender played a significant role during this time of the trials, with women frequently singled out due to the tasks and responsibilities associated with community survival.

Throughout history, women have been assigned numerous duties including cooking, being a spouse, carrying out household tasks, tending to animals, and taking care of children. This period also saw the belief that witches held power over the welfare and survival of others. When someone passed away, women were frequently accused and blamed due to their caregiving roles. A case in point is Sara Bishop, Bridget's sister, who was implicated in witchcraft solely based on allegations against her sister as discussed on the website (http://historyofmassachusetts.org).

Both of them were executed at Gallows Hill in 1692. They both served as housewives for their community, which was an aspect that fascinated people about witchcraft. Personally, I find it unjust that women had to assume numerous roles compared to men during that era. It is noteworthy that there exist many influential women worldwide who shoulder greater responsibilities than men within their families.

While some women earn higher salaries than men based on their intelligence or job performance, gender-based pay disparities still exist in certain regions. This inequality can be linked to historical occurrences like the witch trials, which perpetuated the perception of women as weaker and connected them with satanic influences.

(https://prezi.com) Throughout history, women have been perceived as having smaller bodies compared to men and lacking the power to protect against evil

forces, while men's bodies were seen as powerful. This resulted in a majority of witchcraft accusations being directed at women, reinforcing the enduring stereotype that "boys are stronger than girls." This stereotype persists in our society today. In the past, women faced persecution and being considered disgraceful within their community if they displayed any masculine characteristics.

Moreover, many women felt alienated from society due to the expectation that they be submissive and obedient to men's authority within their households. Any woman who dared to defy these societal norms would instantly be branded as a witch. This unfair treatment hinders women from freely expressing themselves and sharing their viewpoints. Despite greater freedom for women today, they continue to encounter ongoing scrutiny that undermines their daily existence.

In 1796, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a housewife and mother of four from upstate New York, joined four other women for a lunch where they began discussing women's rights. Within a week, they arranged a trip to Seneca Falls, New York, to hold a discussion on the topic. At the event,
participants signed the "Declaration of Sentiments", which advocated for fair and equal treatment of women globally. It also served as a platform for women to convene and deliberate on their rights and necessary reforms.

Stanton wrote the "Declaration of Sentiments, Grievances, and Resolutions," which echoed the opening statement of the Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men and women are created equal." (source) This declaration called for equal voting rights and educational opportunities for women. As a result, Oberlin College became renowned as the first institution where a woman earned a degree in 1830. Despite its limited enrollment

at that time, Oberlin College has since gained widespread recognition. In 1831, three women—Antoinette Brown, Lucy Stone, and Sarah G—were among those who received academic degrees from Oberlin College—an exceptional accomplishment considering the lack of educational access for females.

Antoinette Brown, who was a reformist in women’s rights, abolition, and temperance, was the first person to graduate from Oberlin and obtain a doctor’s degree in American ministry. Later, she married Samuel Blackwell despite being told that their marriage would not be equal. Brown expressed her belief that they could be self-governing and shape their lives according to their intellects. Additionally, advocating for women's right to education, employment, and independence outside the home was an equally significant objective. Source: [source].

Not only did she believe in the importance of political rights, but she also advocated for fairness in academic and economic opportunities. She challenged the unequal treatment of certain genders by Darwin and received recognition for her achievements from the American Association for the Advancement of Science. As a result, they began considering expanding educational opportunities for women and more. Dorothea Dix, born in 1822 in Hampden, Maine, was the eldest of her three siblings.

Dorothea Dix, a teacher, reformer, and author, was raised by an itinerant Methodist preacher father and a mother with debilitating depression. Despite these circumstances, her father taught her to read and write at a young age, setting her apart from most people of her time. At 12 years old, she went to live with her grandmother to continue her education. In Boston and Worcester as a teenager and young woman, Dix founded several schools where she created her own curriculum and supervised classrooms.

Eventually, she dedicated herself to finding solutions for mentally ill individuals in institutions which were successful and had a global impact.

Dorothea made significant changes in mental institutions within military hospitals during her career, and she was acclaimed as a leader among female nurses. After retiring, she traveled to Europe, continued writing, and provided guidance to the growing movement for reforming the treatment of the mentally ill. Existing hospitals were reconstructed and dedicated according to her principles, while new hospitals were established based on her ideals. Dorothea passed away at 85 years old in a New Jersey hospital that had been named after her.

Susan Brownell Anthony was born on February 15, 1820, in Adams, Massachusetts. She devoted a significant part of her life to advocating for suffrage rights.

The Civil War had a significant effect on women in various areas, including voting booths, religious institutions, workplaces, and homes. The connection between the war and issues such as race, class, and temperance greatly impacted women. After the war, Anthony stressed the significance of women having their own voice and independent opinions in their lives. Additionally, she believed that women experienced their most influential suffrage period during this time.

She showed her quick learning abilities at the young age of 3 by reading and writing, co-authoring a product called The History Of Women Suffrage with her best friend. In Albany in 1852, Anthony organized the Woman’s New York State Temperance Society after being denied the right to speak at a temperance meeting. More information about her presidency can be found here. Additionally, during the early times in the Civil War, she established the Women’s National Loyal League—an organization dedicated

to fighting for emancipation.

Towards the end of the war, the group successfully campaigned to change the fourteenth amendment. In 1869, Anthony organized a woman suffrage convention in Washington, DC. Shortly after, she and Stanton formed the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA), which became a respected advocate for women's voting rights. However, when Anthony exercised her right to vote, she faced legal consequences - being arrested, convicted, and fined. Despite this, she defiantly refused to pay the penalty.

Following the dismissal of her case, she initiated a movement to advocate for women's suffrage. More than 400 women, including Clarissa Harlowe Barton, disguised themselves as men in order to participate in the Civil War. Nonetheless, unlike present-day women, she faced obstacles that hindered her direct enlistment in the military.

As men entered the war, there was a noticeable rise in feminist activity. Numerous women joined the war effort, taking up roles as nurses and volunteers. This marked a significant turning point in American History as women played a major role in such a massive event for the first time. The presence of infections during the war troubled fellow nurses, and they took action to address it. They reached out to the federal government and were heard, leading to efforts to improve safety. The outcome of their efforts was the establishment of the Sanitary Commission.

Women during the Civil War played a crucial role in safeguarding troops from diseases by taking on new job opportunities. The majority of contributions, amounting to approximately fifteen million dollars in supplies, were made by women. However, female slaves were unable to contribute due to their lack of freedom. It is important to note that being

a woman did not shield female slaves from enduring immense hardships such as engaging in strenuous labor, experiencing beatings and rape, being separated from their families, and even facing death. (Source)

Frances Clayton, a courageous woman, defied the regulations of the Civil War period by serving with great bravery for several months while concealing her true identity. Despite the explicit prohibition on women joining both Union and Confederate armies, she boldly enlisted, putting herself at risk of execution or prosecution if authorities uncovered her secret.

Although the conventional belief is that only men participated in the Civil War, women also played a crucial role. They fought in battles, lived in camps, endured imprisonment, and made sacrifices for their causes (https://www.archives.gov). However, it should be noted that this was a highly dangerous endeavor.

Despite being aware of Frances' gender, many soldiers opted to stay silent as a gesture of respect for her choice to join the war effort with them. Originating primarily in the United States, the women's movement aimed at attaining parity in rights and opportunities for women across various aspects including the economy, personal lives, and politics. Commonly known as the "first wave" within feminism overall, it brought about significant transformations in households after the war. Some women discovered themselves living autonomously either due to bereavement or because male home ownership was reinstated.

After the war, job opportunities were offered to women who had contributed during the conflict. One woman who benefited from this was Margaret Mead, an American anthropologist, who secured a fair and unbiased post-war job. (source: www.britannica.com) Born on December 16th, 1802, Margaret Mead passed away on November 15th, 1863. Alongside her scientific work,

she gained immense fame for her strong personality and outspokenness.

Throughout history, movements advocating for women's rights have emerged in recognition of the challenges they face. Over time, progress has been made towards treating women equally thanks to significant events like the civil war and the Oberlin College event.

These historical events had a significant impact on how women could be perceived. The Salem Witch Trials were one such example among many. It is unjust to view women differently solely based on their gender! Over time, society has made significant progress in reducing such biases in everyday life, although this event played a pivotal role in bringing about change.