How Society Forced Women to Unite and Initiate Change
BY NOSARA MAXWELL '23
Throughout history, women have maintained limited rights—often only being valued for their ability to birth and care for children. Until recently, women could not hold any positions of power, which prevented them from advancing their role in society. Men controlled the narrative of civilization around the world, and women’s contributions rarely merited a footnote in this male-dominated history. Though expectations created by men continue to demote women in many realms, in the United States, women have gradually seized power by uniting across both racial and socio-economic lines.
During the 18th century, colonial women—restricted to traditional feminine roles as mothers and wives—had very few rights but many responsibilities. As mothers, they followed Republican motherhood: the idea that a woman’s duty is to teach America’s next generation to embrace Republican ideals. Indeed, some gained access to higher education but only to teach their children. And although they eventually entered the workforce during the Industrial Revolution, their wages were one-third that of men’s. Evidently, the small changes during the early 1800s were quite superficial. Higher, better-paying positions were closed to women, and laws catered to male success and the economy. At this point, women simply fell into their roles created by societal expectations without much resistance.
Often cited as a milestone in suffragette history, the Seneca Falls Woman's Rights Convention (1848) catalyzed the uphill battle for women’s suffrage. The convention marked the beginning of women uniting to fight against oppressive societal expectations. As the first instance where women came together to fight for their rights, it symbolized the appearance of feminism and the changes that can be sparked through unification. These early suffragettes’ defiance changed the course of history for future women. However, it also highlighted the number of people, both men and women, who opposed changes in women's status. Clearly, future feminist activists faced a long and arduous journey.
At the start of the 20th century, women began fighting against societal expectations more publicly, holding marches and campaigning for their rights. By then, most women reached a similar consensus about their deserved rights, and their shared beliefs strengthened their impact. Suffragette ideas, initially promoted by educated white women, spread to the working class and Black women, uniting various racial and socioeconomic backgrounds under one cause.
Undeniably, their work soon brought great progress. In 1920, Congress passed the 19th Amendment, officially giving women the right to vote. This landmark decision marked a hard-won victory for the women who defied societal expectations to fight for equality. By obtaining the right to a political voice, women realized that they could invoke change by uniting around a common goal. After the suffragettes’ success, women began vying for more opportunities as feminist expectations rose as well.
By the 1960s, the second wave of feminism began, with women focusing on equality and eliminating sex-based discrimination. In 1972, Title IX determined that any federally funded school program or activity cannot discriminate based on sex, and in 1973, the Supreme Court's ruling in Roe v. Wade made abortion legal. With each triumph, feminists created new intentions to shape a better future, invoking changes that well surpassed the suffragettes’ primary goal.
Yet, despite the progress women have fought so hard for, expectations still hinder them from becoming their true selves. Shockingly, society still subjects women to similar standards from 200 years ago; within S&P 500’s companies, women make up only 45% of employees. With positions of power, women fare much worse: they constitute 37% of mid-level managers, 27% of senior bosses, and just 6% of CEOs. Further, in the workplace, the stereotype that women are more emotional than men persists, and critics use this false belief to justify the lack of women in powerful positions. These stereotypes aren’t new; rather, they stem from traditional gender roles and expectations that have constrained women for centuries.
In a world where expectations have long forced women into restrictive roles, there is value in the progress made in the last three hundred years. Simply picture those brave, defiant feminists of the past gazing into the future. They would see their dream slowly becoming reality, as women around the world achieve what they could never fathom obtaining. Feminism has experienced growth in a way that many movements struggle to accomplish. Still, there is no telling when, or even if, women will achieve equal rights and opportunities to men, but activists today can find strength in their predecessors’ journey and accomplishments. Learning their history brings hope. It reminds us that women can unite against societal expectations to create a new, better future for their children—a world where their children can grow up without the prejudice or hardships that plagued older generations.
During the 18th century, colonial women—restricted to traditional feminine roles as mothers and wives—had very few rights but many responsibilities. As mothers, they followed Republican motherhood: the idea that a woman’s duty is to teach America’s next generation to embrace Republican ideals. Indeed, some gained access to higher education but only to teach their children. And although they eventually entered the workforce during the Industrial Revolution, their wages were one-third that of men’s. Evidently, the small changes during the early 1800s were quite superficial. Higher, better-paying positions were closed to women, and laws catered to male success and the economy. At this point, women simply fell into their roles created by societal expectations without much resistance.
Often cited as a milestone in suffragette history, the Seneca Falls Woman's Rights Convention (1848) catalyzed the uphill battle for women’s suffrage. The convention marked the beginning of women uniting to fight against oppressive societal expectations. As the first instance where women came together to fight for their rights, it symbolized the appearance of feminism and the changes that can be sparked through unification. These early suffragettes’ defiance changed the course of history for future women. However, it also highlighted the number of people, both men and women, who opposed changes in women's status. Clearly, future feminist activists faced a long and arduous journey.
At the start of the 20th century, women began fighting against societal expectations more publicly, holding marches and campaigning for their rights. By then, most women reached a similar consensus about their deserved rights, and their shared beliefs strengthened their impact. Suffragette ideas, initially promoted by educated white women, spread to the working class and Black women, uniting various racial and socioeconomic backgrounds under one cause.
Undeniably, their work soon brought great progress. In 1920, Congress passed the 19th Amendment, officially giving women the right to vote. This landmark decision marked a hard-won victory for the women who defied societal expectations to fight for equality. By obtaining the right to a political voice, women realized that they could invoke change by uniting around a common goal. After the suffragettes’ success, women began vying for more opportunities as feminist expectations rose as well.
By the 1960s, the second wave of feminism began, with women focusing on equality and eliminating sex-based discrimination. In 1972, Title IX determined that any federally funded school program or activity cannot discriminate based on sex, and in 1973, the Supreme Court's ruling in Roe v. Wade made abortion legal. With each triumph, feminists created new intentions to shape a better future, invoking changes that well surpassed the suffragettes’ primary goal.
Yet, despite the progress women have fought so hard for, expectations still hinder them from becoming their true selves. Shockingly, society still subjects women to similar standards from 200 years ago; within S&P 500’s companies, women make up only 45% of employees. With positions of power, women fare much worse: they constitute 37% of mid-level managers, 27% of senior bosses, and just 6% of CEOs. Further, in the workplace, the stereotype that women are more emotional than men persists, and critics use this false belief to justify the lack of women in powerful positions. These stereotypes aren’t new; rather, they stem from traditional gender roles and expectations that have constrained women for centuries.
In a world where expectations have long forced women into restrictive roles, there is value in the progress made in the last three hundred years. Simply picture those brave, defiant feminists of the past gazing into the future. They would see their dream slowly becoming reality, as women around the world achieve what they could never fathom obtaining. Feminism has experienced growth in a way that many movements struggle to accomplish. Still, there is no telling when, or even if, women will achieve equal rights and opportunities to men, but activists today can find strength in their predecessors’ journey and accomplishments. Learning their history brings hope. It reminds us that women can unite against societal expectations to create a new, better future for their children—a world where their children can grow up without the prejudice or hardships that plagued older generations.