Essays

Women's rights, as a term, typically refers to the freedoms inherently possessed by women and girls of all ages, which may be institutionalized, ignored or illegitimately suppressed by law, custom, and behavior in a particular society. These liberties are grouped together and differentiated from broader notions of human rights because they often differ from the freedoms inherently possessed by or recognized for men and boys, and because activism surrounding this issue claims an inherent historical and traditional bias against the exercise of rights by women.

Feminism and most modern sociological theory maintain that the differences between men and women are, at least in part, socially constructed 'differences', (i.e. determined through history by specific human groups), rather than biologically determined, immutable conditions. Issues commonly associated with notions of women's rights include, though are not limited to, the right: to bodily integrity and autonomy; to vote (universal suffrage); to hold public office; to work; to fair wages or equal pay; to own property; to education; to serve in the military; to enter into legal contracts; and to have marital, parental and religious rights. Today, women in most nations can vote. Own property, work in many different professions, and hold public office.

These are some of the rights of the modem woman. But women have not always been allowed to do these things, similar to the experiences of the majority of men throughout history. Women and their supporters have waged and in some places continue to wage long campaigns to win the same rights as modern men and be viewed as equals in society.

Suffrage, the right to vote: The ideas that were planted in the late 1700s took root during the 1800s Women knew that if they were going to change society they must win the right to vote. In this way them couid participate in government and, in so doing, influence policies and laws.

United States: In the United States the campaign to secure voting rights was closely tied to the movement to end slavery. American reformers Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were leaders in both struggles. In July 1848 they invited women reformers to gather in Seneca Falls, New York. The convention issued a statement calling for voting rights for women as well as recognition of a woman's right to pursue a career and attend college.

Two years later the first national Women's Rights Convention was held in Worcester, Massachusetts. There Lucy Stone delivered a stirring speech about women's right to vote. Another convention held in Syracuse, New York, was organized by activist Susan B. Anthony. In addition, reformers staged marches and other public events to raise awareness of voting rights.

When the American Civil War ended in 1865, women who had worked hard to end slavery hoped that government would extend the full rights of citizenship to freed blacks as well as to all women. But the 14th and 15th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, adopted in 1868 and 1870, granted citizenship and voting rights only to black men. Women reformers had to continue their fight.

Women's struggle to secure voting rights was won little by little. The territories of Wyoming and Utah granted women the right to vote in territorial elections. The Western states of Colorado and Idaho followed the example, but Eastern states resisted. Beginning in 1878 amendments to the U.S. Constitution were proposed in every session of Congress, but each time the voting rights measure failed to pass.

When the United States entered World War I in 1917, many women reformers pledged their support. Volunteering in hospitals and government offices, they hoped to be recognized for their patriotism and win the right to vote. In June 1919 Congress passed the women's voting rights bill. It became the 19th Amendment to the Constitution in August of 1920, after the required number of state legislatures ratified, or approved, it.

Great Britain: In Great Britain, women reformers were divided into two groups — the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies and the Women's Social and Political Union. Leaders in the struggle were the radical Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughter Christabel. Their fight also proved slow and frustrating. In 1918 the British Parliament finally passed a bill allowing women over the age of 30 to vote. In 1928 the age limit was lowered to 21.

Other countries: In some nations women were granted full voting rights earlier than in the United States and Britain. Women won the right to vote in New Zealand in 1893, Australia in 1902, and Finland in 1906. But many other nations proved much slower to change. For example, women in France were not given voting rights until 1944. However, in some of these countries only women in the ruling population were able to vote at first. For example. Aboriginal women in Australia were not allowed to vote until they became citizens in 1967. Today women in some conservative Arab countries still do not have the right to vote.

A modern movement: In the 1960s women's rights again became an important issue in the United States. Now the movement was called "feminism" or "women's liberation." Reformers wanted the same pay as men, an equal rights amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and the freedom to plan their families or not have children at all. Their efforts were met with mixed results.

In 1966 the National Organization of Women (NOW) was created with the purpose of bringing about equality for all women. NOW was one important group that fought for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). This amendment stated that "equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of sex." But there was disagreement on how the proposed amendment would be understood. Supporters believed it would guarantee women equal treatment. But critics feared it might deny women the right be financially supported by their husbands. The amendment died in 1982 because not enough states had ratified it. ERAs have been included in subsequent Congresses, but have still failed to be ratified.

In the last three decades of the 20th century, American women knew a new freedom: medical advances helped them control if and when they would have children. Called birth control, this enabled women to plan their adult lives, often making way for both career and family. The movement had been started in the 1910s by pioneering social reformer Margaret Sanger.

Progress : Over the course of the 20th century women took on a greater role in society. For example, many women served in the U.S. government — some as senators and others as members of the President's Cabinet. Many women took advantage of opportunities to become educated. In the United States at the beginning of the 20th century less than 20 percent of all college degrees were earned by women. By the end of the century this figure had risen to about 50 percent.

Opportunities also expanded in the workplace. Fields such as medicine, law, and science opened to include more women. At the beginning of the 20th century about 5 percent of the doctors in the United States were women. As of 1998, 23 percent of all doctors were women, and today, women make up more than 50 percent of the medical student population. While the numbers of women in these fields increased, many women still continued to hold clerical, factory, retail, or service jobs. For example, they worked as office assistants, on assembly lines, or as cooks.

Today: In the developed nations of the world, women have continued to struggle against discrimination. With many women working outside the home and having children, new issues have arisen about how to balance a career and a family. This is especially true because women are often expected to be the main caregivers for their children and home even while they are working. There are also still far fewer women in positions of leadership than there are men. But women continue to make great strides in the workplace/ government, and society in general.

In some developing nations women continue to be denied basic rights. But through the United Nations and its agencies, as well as many other independent groups concerned with the fair treatment of all people, the role of women in the world continues to evolve.