Women Past and Present

Women Past and Present During the 20th century, women in general was limited, however women are now in a much better position than before. We, as women, especially those of us who live in liberal parts of the world, often take for granted the rights and benefits, which we have. We forget that in other times, women were not considered to be equal to their male counterparts; they were considered to be helpless subordinates to the men with whom they lived. Though we do not often consider it, we owe much of these everyday freedoms to women of the past, who struggled and pushed for equal rights and recognition.

Their determination helped us gain increased education, economic status, and political rights, among other things. In the colonial times, the Colonial women’s role in the family was the keeper of the home, and that was all she was really allowed. She made the family’s clothes, she provided a home cooked meal, and took care of the children, all of this by herself until the female children were old enough to be of use. She could do nothing for her sons, they were to be submissive on the farther, or be apprenticed out. She was, in fact, her husbands slave.

Women were seen as weak human beings. They were not allowed to have other aspirations. She had no say in anything that went on; she could only follow her husband’s commandments. This male dominated society dictates that women be inoffensive and obedient and is financially dependent of the husband. Woman’s role was strictly limited to home and family. As for the question of free time, what free time? If they by chance had any, they usually baked, or got some mending done or make candles. Basically, more tasks. “Idle hands are the devil’s tools,” is what they were encouraged to believe.

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During the nineteenth century, women were viewed as homemakers, not able to perform in society with men. They were degraded by men to believe that they were worth almost nothing, only worthy of bearing children. This superfluous male domination lead too many women feeling trapped in their own homes, unable to escape from the confinements placed on them by their husbands. However things did change, women started working outside of their home. Besides farm work, their jobs were mainly in traditional women’s fields such as teaching, nursing, and domestic service.

Textile mills and clothing factories are traditional employers of women. They worked in these factories and war-related industries while World War II was being fought, and many of them enjoyed the opportunity to work outside the home. By the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century improvements aided in giving women more rights, and educational and occupational opportunities. The growth of commercial laundries and expanding production of clothing, processed foods, and other household items relieved women of many tasks and created hundreds of jobs for them outside the home.

Manufacturing, retail and wholesale trade, banking, and services grew rapidly in the early 20th century. The success of many of these ventures depended on women. Middle-class women had it much easier than lower class women. More opportunities, more advancement, and more respect. When they did accept women the numbers were limited because women lacked the education to be prepared for any type of higher learning. Other women found jobs in rudimentary school teaching, managing clubs for poor youth, poor young women and schools for infants.

Women during this time were beginning to see that not only did they belong in the home, but they could also find a role in the workplace. Today, women study subjects of personal interest, they seek degrees that match their talents and aspirations. Once they began to go to college, they began to challenge society’s expectations as well as their personal experiences. The major detonator of the women’s movement was education, changing the woman’s role in society from passive to an active and vital force. Once women began receiving higher education, there was no turning back.

Occupations were limited but women began to filter into the male-dominated world. Before this time women were uneducated and not capable to vote. A four-year college education is likewise common as women go to earn their master’s degree and PhD. Yet, for women in the workforce, there are still many cases where barriers exist that may limit their chances of earning that promotion. They still have a hard time with power and they have a harder time keeping power. In the long run, women became activists pushing for the rights and eventually succeeded.

They have much more freedom and equality now, thanks to the women who pushed for equal rights, and it was slowly realized that females have the same capabilities to think and have responsibilities as men. Women today are postponing the role of motherhood and are concentrating more on their careers. If there are any needs that needs to be fulfilled in a woman’s life, this is it; well paying job, being on the executive level and prove that we can also be female dominators. Women in today’s society are focused more on independence.

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