The Evolution of Women’s Rights Ms. Loftis

Where do we start? Coverture Social constraints The legal status of a married woman , considered to be under her husband’s protection and authority. Social constraints Domestic roles Raising children, cooking, cleaning, shopping Limited access to education Limited ability to decide ones financial future Income Legal rights

In contrast, women were part of the community Women’s income was taxed Women were used as population for representation in the House of Representatives Involvement in the Civil War, and other wars

Waves of the Feminist Movement Waves of Feminism To define, establish, and achieve political, economic, personal, and social rights for women. First Wave– early reformers to the 1950s Second Wave– 1950s – 1990s Third Wave– 1990s - present

First Wave – start the discussion Abagail Adams Remember the Ladies, 1776 “I desire you would Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favourable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could. If perticuliar care and attention is not paid to the Laidies we are determined to foment a Rebelion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation.” Mary Wollstonecraft A Vindication of the Rights of Women, 1792 To change women’s role in society, need to be educated Too emotional to learn “I do not wish them [women] to have power over men; but over themselves.” Well received by society

More First Wave Feminists Harriet Beecher Stowe Uncle Tom’s Cabin, 1852 A book regarding abolition, but influenced the women’s rights movement How? The Grimke Sisters Some of the first women public speakers to abolish slavery Influenced the women’s rights movement by expanding on what is socially acceptable for women to do and think Hospitals and the mentally ill Dorothea Dix The Red Cross Clara Barton

Seneca Falls Seneca Falls, Women’s Rights Convention, 1848 Organized by Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton Abolitionists ~200 women attend, ~40 men attend Declaration of Sentiments and Grievances Intentionally mirrored the Declaration of Independence Taxation without representation

Declaration of Sentiments and Grievances He has made her, if married, in the eye of the law, civilly dead. He has taken from her all right in property, even to the wages she earns. He has compelled her to submit to laws, in the formation of which she had no voice.

What did Seneca Falls do? Started the organized debate of women’s rights

The path to vote The temperance movement Abolition Women to have the right to vote to end the abuse of alcohol on our country Abolition Women’s roles in society parallels that of slaves Allows a platform for women to speak and be heard Changing the mindset of society

19th Amendment, 1920 Grants women the right to vote

Amelia Bloomer “Let men be compelled to wear our dress for awhile and we should soon hear them advocating change.”

Amelia Bloomer She did not create the bloomer, but did support it. Allows women to perform daily functions Manual labor Factory work Athletics

Women go to work

The Fight Against Opinion Change the mindsets of the people Terms like feminist or suffragette

Second Wave – fine-tuning the conversation In general, second wave allows: To let women have freedom, equal opportunity, and control over their lives Second wave was to battle: Legal and social inequalities – equal pay, divorce rights, financial freedom Eleanor Roosevelt, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1945-1946 After WWII and the violations of human rights Expands to women

The Equal Pay Act, 1963 US labor law aimed to abolish wage disparity based on gender Signed by John F. Kennedy

The Feminine Mystique, 1963 Betty Friedan Why were women unsatisfied with their lives? Domestic duties Socially pleasant, attractive Is this all? Frustration = neurotic Women should cultivate their identity by fulfilling employment

The Equal Rights Amendment Drafted by Alice Paul and Crystal Eastman, 1923 To guarantee the equal rights of women Never ratified 35 states passed, needed 38 Women and men have traditional roles 1980s

Why is news important? Ms. Magazine

Women’s news was narrow in focus Post war America Media focused their attention on males for news Women’s news was narrowly focused on domestic roles Women were primarily consumers

Good Housekeeping

Harper’s Bazaar

Ms. Magazine Gloria Steinem First published in 1972 Sold out in 9 days First mainstream feminist magazine Goal was to involve women as political participants Encouraged future magazines to adjust their focus Still available online

First edition of Ms. Magazine

A variety of topics in Ms. Magazine

Why is credit important? Economic Freedom

Economic Freedom Equal Credit Opportunity Act 1974 Unlawful for a creditor to discriminate against any applicant on the basis gender, marital status, race, and religion.

Thank you and keep asking questions “Organize, agitate, educate, must be our war cry” Susan B. Anthony “The extension of women’s rights is the basic principle of all social progress” Charles Fourier