Throughout history, women have been mistreated by men. From depriving them of equal rights to robbing them of opportunities, women have endured a lot.
Back then, women were expected to stay at home, take care of the household, and raise children. They were not allowed to own property, vote, or make life choices. In other words, they were forced to stay dependent on men at all times.
However, times have changed as women now have equal rights as men. After countless fights and struggles over the centuries, women have the right to vote, own property, and everything else that a man can. This has been possible due to people like Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and others who fought throughout their lives for women’s equal rights. You can see their image on the internet to get an idea about what they look like.
Women’s Rights Movement
It is not hidden that women around the world suffer due to inequality and unfair treatment. Back then, women were limited to roles as mothers, wives, and daughters as their contributions to society were never considered. Even though many women played crucial roles in political and cultural life, they were not recognised or given due credit.
While the organized Women’s Rights movement started in the 19th century, the struggle for equality existed long before that. A 15th-century Italian writer, Christine de Pizan was one of the early figures who questioned if women were seen as human beings or not.
During the French Revolution, women played a key role, but their rights were not recognized. To highlight this issue, in 1971, Olympe de Gouges wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen. She exposed the failure to achieve gender equality, but sadly her efforts led to her execution.
In North America, the women’s movement grew as more women gained access to education. Early activists fought against both slavery and women’s oppression. In 1848, they organized the first Women’s Rights Convention to hold campaigns for women’s rights in Europe and America.
Waves Of Feminism – Timeline
The fight for Women’s Equality and rights is an ongoing battle. Even though have made significant progress, we still have a long way to go. That being said, let’s take a look at the timeline of the rise of feminism.
First Wave Of Feminism
The first wave of feminism started in the 19th century and spread across the world like wildfire. It was called the Suffragette movement and focused on women’s right to vote.
During this time, feminists held large demonstrations, organised debates, created international women’s organisations, and published newspapers to fight for women’s rights. By the 1920s, women in North America and most European countries won the right to vote.
Around this time, women were allowed to attend university, join different political parties, and work in offices and factories and offices. Unfortunately, in some countries, the feminist movement was banned as fascists took control.
After World War II, women once again revived the movement, gaining equal political rights in most European countries. Their demand was to let women work full-time jobs, go to university, and divorce their husbands.
Second Wave Of Feminism
In the 1970s, the feminist movement in the USA and Western Europe was active again. This period was known as the second wave of feminism which focused on achieving “women’s liberation.”
On one hand, liberal feminists wanted to reform institutions like churches, and schools and improve equality laws. On the other hand, radical feminists blamed patriarchy to be the main cause of women’s inequality. They also highlighted important issues like violence against women, and rape.
The second wave of feminism led to the creation of new academic fields. Additionally, it played a key role in drafting international documents about women’s rights, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Third Wave Of Feminism
The third wave of feminism started in the 1990s and was mainly triggered due to the backlash against feminism.
This wave focused on issues like class, race, sexual orientation, and gender. It also highlighted global feminist concerns, including women’s rights around the world. During this time, feminist NGOs focused on specific issues rather than broad feminist ideas.
Third-wave feminists used pop culture and media including e-zines and blogs to spread their message and emphasise issues like domestic violence, sexual harassment, body image, reproductive rights, and the pay gap.
Susan B. Anthony’s Contribution In Women’s Rights
Susan B Anthony played an important role in the fight for women’s rights in the United States. She was passionate about women’s equality and dedicated her life to securing their right to vote.
During her time, women didn’t have the right to vote. According to Susan, it was unfair for women to be deprived of voting rights. She worked tirelessly to change it and co-founded the National Woman Suffrage Association in 1869. The organisation aimed to help women secure the right to vote. Despite facing several challenges, Susan never gave up. Her efforts eventually paid off when the 19th Amendment was passed in 1920 and allowed women the right to vote.
Roe Vs Wade Case
The Roe v. Wade case was a crucial decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973 that legalized abortion nationwide. The case began when Jane Roe (a pseudonym for Norma McCorvey) sued the state of Texas, where abortion was illegal unless it was to save the mother’s life. She argued that the law violated her right to privacy under the U.S. Constitution.
The Supreme Court ruled in her favour, stating that the Constitution protects a woman’s right to choose to have an abortion. The decision allowed women to legally seek abortions within the first trimester of pregnancy.
Women’s Rights – Then Vs Now
Women’s rights have evolved over time, benefiting the future generations. In the past, women had limited rights, but now things have changed. Today, women can vote, own property, attend universities, and take up full-time jobs.
While the situation for women has improved quite a lot, there’s still room for improvement. We still have issues like the pay gap, rape, and domestic violence that need to be addressed. This shows that the fight for full equality is still on.
