Role Of Suffragettes

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In the early times of the Revolutionary War in America, the role of women had always been subpar and limited in comparison to the men of the country. Faced with domestic expectations and viewed as the significantly weaker sex, women would always remain in the men’s shadows in the workplace and in politics. However, due to the efforts of suffragettes and associations from the mid 1800s to 1920, the role of women vastly expanded in the face of new opportunities. Although the role of women remained similar in some aspects such as economic and political inferiority to men, massive changes with new opportunities in politics, volunteerism, and the workplace occurred due to the Women’s Rights Movement, the Progressive Era, and the Gilded Age.
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For instance, women were granted the ability to vote with the 19th amendment, which opened up more opportunities for women to politically participate. This was due to the various efforts of organizations such as the National American Woman Suffrage Association, formed by a congregation of NWSA, and the AWSA, which were founded by Elizabeth Cady Stanton with Lucretia Mott and Lucy Stone, respectively. These suffragettes campaigned across the country to secure votes for women and ensure political participation. Women were also granted new economic opportunities in the Gilded Age and Urbanization in the 1870s. This is largely due to the opening of department stores, such as Macy’s in New York and Marshall Field’s in Chicago, where women could serve as clerks. The Civil War and World War 1 also allowed women to contribute to the war effort as nurses or take over men’s jobs while the men fought. Additionally, women also gained volunteerism opportunities through the Progressive Era. For instance, Jane Addams’ settlement house provided opportunities for women to offer their services to the community. Over time, the role of women were vastly expanded politically, economically, and socially with more opportunities as a result of societal …show more content…
From the early days of slavery, into the late 1920s, African Americans gradually gained more rights and opportunities, similar to women. The Civil War offered both a chance to contribute; for the African Americans, the Emancipation of Proclamation allowed them to serve in the Union army, while women worked as nurses. Additionally, both eventually gained suffrage through the passage of Amendments 15 and 19 for African Americans and women, respectively. World War 1 also permitted women to gain control of men’s jobs while men were away at war, and African Americans followed suit by moving to the North in the Great Migration due to those shortages in labor at factories, mills, and railroads. It is evident that both women and African Americans share similarities in the transformation of societal roles. While the role of women in society remained subpar to men politically and economically, the progression from the American Revolution to the 1920s brought forth grand impacts for women politically, economically, and socially. Though burdened by societal expectations and traditional values, women have risen above their limits and fought hard for their well deserved rights. By examining the trend of women’s rights and their role, it may not be long until they achieve complete equality in more fields of
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