1. Fight for Women’s Rights By: Danni-Jo Cobb

2. Thesis  Women today still face inequality within the workforce and politics. On August 23-26,2013, Demonstrations took place in Albuquerque, NM; Asheville, NC; Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Columbia, MO; Dallas, TX; Flint, MI; Houston, TX; Los Angeles, CA; New Haven, CT; New Paltz, NY; New York City, NY; Phoenix, AZ; Sacramento, CA; San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA; and Washington, DC

3. Background  Discrimination and the equality of men and women have been a major debate for over a hundred years. Many people in the 1900’s believed that women were meant to be at home, not working or fighting for their country. Starting in the early 1900’s people started fighting for women’s rights. In 1920, the 19th amendment was ratified and legalized the women’s right to vote. President John F. Kennedy put the Equal Pay Act into law in 1963 to help the equality of men and women by illegalizing discrimination based on gender. Since these acts and amendments have been made the amount of discrimination has lessened, but has not completely been fixed.  In the early 1900’s women were not able to be enlisted in the military. In 1948, the Women’s Service Integration Act allowed women to become active member of the military.  On August 18, 1920, women received the right to vote.  Still today cities everywhere are fighting for the rights of women. New Hampshire, 2012

4. Argument and Counterargument  Women have the same capabilities as men, but are not treated equally as men. Women, in 2010, were getting paid 77 cents to a men’s dollar. Women can be as physically and intellectually able as men to perform certain tasks, but they are not allowed too. Companies give the more demanding jobs to the men, in most cases, which can be their excuse to pay them more.  Although, this is true, in some cases the women are not as capable and men feel as though they should being doing the job and women should be staying home like it was many years ago. In some companies, women can not be as physically able to perform certain tasks that are left to the men to do. Also, many people believe that men are more confident and able to have a leadership position compared to men.

5. Conclusion  Women should be receiving the same opportunities as men and the same rights. They should have the chance to try for the leadership position they want or the job that is “just for men.” Women can have the same capabilities so they should have the same opportunities in work and in pay.

6. References  Ferro, S. (2015, January 14). The Problem With Women In The Workplace Is Men. Retrieved April 29, 2015, from http://www.businessinsider.com/women-and-equality-in-the-workplace- 2015-1  Freedman, J. (2010). Women in the workplace: Wages, respect, and equal rights. New York: Rosen Pub.  Gender Inequality and Women in the Workplace. (n.d.). Retrieved May 04, 2015, from http://www.summer.harvard.edu/blog-news-events/gender-inequality-women-workplace  Hawker, L. (Ed.). (2010). Women's rights. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press.  History of women and equality. (n.d.). Retrieved April 29, 2015, from http://www.americasjobexchange.com/career-advice/women-and-equality  History of Women and Equality. (n.d.). Retrieved May 01, 2015, from http://www.americasjobexchange.com/career-advice/women-and-equality  Women's leadership and political participation. (n.d.). Retrieved May 09, 2015, from http://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/leadership-and-political-participation