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Natalie Gaither Late-American History 18 April 2014 Womens Rights and Civil Liberties Everything that has happened throughout history has impacted me and the people around me in some way or another. Narrowing my options down has been difficult, there are just so many options. Ultimately, my decision is about womens rights and civil liberties. I figured this has been one of the more prevalent historical events that have affected so many people, men and women alike. Allowing women equal rights has affected me and my ancestors in many ways. Women's rights movements are primarily concerned with making the political, social, and economic status of women equal to that of men and with establishing legislative safeguards against discrimination on the basis of sex (Scholastic). National divisiveness ended in a truce at the outbreak of World War I (1914) with the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPUs) decision to support the war effort. The ensuing mobilization by WSPU of thousands of its members for voluntary participation in the war industries and support services was a highly influential factor in overcoming government resistance to WSPU aims. The right to vote was granted in 1918 (Scholastic). I dont think it was fair to expect women to take care of factory jobs, chores, farm work and the families while their husbands, fathers, brothers and even their children were at war. The fact that women were able to take care of everything while men were away at war, proved that women are just as capable as men to handle things therefore, the women should be viewed as equals.

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It seems as though the 1848 Seneca Falls Woman's Rights Convention, marked the beginning of the women's rights movement in the United States. I have discovered that there were many movements made in order to allow women equal rights to men. Many women fought for the cause. Luckily for me, their relentlessness allowed me the freedom I have today. Around 1910 dramatic changes of the woman suffrage campaign emerged as a "feminist" movement, stating that suffrage is not only a matter of justice, but also a solution to such political and social problems such as, labor exploitation, and municipal corruption (Isenberg, Nancy). The 1920s were a busy time for women. At this time, the Department of Labor provided women in the workforce good, safe working environments. This is also the time that congress passed the Nineteenth Amendment, allowing women the right to vote (Imbornoni, Ann-Marie). The women's rights movement did not begin in a single place nor did it focus exclusively on the vote (Isenberg). As I was doing my research, I ran across some names of the women who had a hand in the decimation of womens suffrage. Sadly, the only name that I recognized was Susan B. Anthonys and the only reason for that recognition is because of the coin in circulation with her on it. These women should be more, well known. Theyve changed the fate of womens society. Personally, it is somewhat difficult for me to fathom what women had to deal with and went through not too long ago. Ive only known women as equals to men. Ive been fortunate in the fact that Ive never felt discriminated against due to age or sex in the paths Ive chosen to take. I am a very independent and self-sufficient woman. It would be very difficult for me to be submissive to anyone. I am also very stubborn and if I am told to do something or expected

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to act a certain way I generally do the opposite just to show that I will do what I want. This has gotten me into some trouble throughout my life but I will do what I want, when I want and how I want. I would not have been able to survive having to act the way others expect me to. If I had to live like the women of the early 1900s and earlier I dont think I could be the proper woman that was expected of the women in that era. It would be impossible for me to have to stay home all day and take care of children, take care of the house and cook multiple meals a day for my husband because thats what is expected of me. Im doing good just to have dinner on the table most nights. I enjoy having my own life and being able to be my own person. I love working and having an opportunity to make a difference. I also enjoy meeting new people. I love my jeans and t-shirts and not having to fix my hair every day or apply makeup if I dont feel like doing so. Theres no way I could live life as the proper woman. Thank goodness for the women who fought so hard in order for future women to live their own life. Allowing women an opportunity to make more of themselves. And, allowing women an opportunity to get an education and be successful, productive members of society.

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Works Cited A Brief History of Women's Rights Movements. Scholastic. http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/history-womens-rights-movements Isenberg, Nancy. Womens Rights Movement. 2001. http://www.anb.org/cush_rights.html. The Oxford Companion to United States History Imbornoni, Ann-Marie. Women's Rights Movement in the U.S. Timeline of Key Events in the American Womens Rights Movement. 2007. http://www.infoplease.com/spot/womenstimeline1.html