Traditional Gender Roles In History

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Traditional Gender Roles: Left in History Gender roles are the types of behaviors that are acceptable and appropriate for a person’s sex. Since the 19th century, women have been fighting to stop gender discrimination. Before time, traditional gender roles were the ideal way a family should work. Women were the housekeepers while men worked to provide for the family (“Neuman”). Men were the ones in charge, and women were their possessions. Single mothers couldn’t support their families, and were shamed upon, forcing them to give their children up for adoption. In the book The Girls That Went Away by Ann Fessler, Ann shares stories of women who were unwed and young when they got pregnant. These women were forced to hide the truth, and give their babies up for adoption. A girl in the story told Ann that her parents pretended she was on a lengthy vacation while she was forced to stay at a family …show more content…
The women, known as flappers, were one of the most famous symbols of the 1920s. They wore short skirts, bobbed hair and makeup. Not only had women changed their appearance, they were fighting for the government to create additional amendments to the Constitution for them. In 1920, the 19th amendment was ratified for women to be guaranteed the right to vote (“The”). Before women had the right to vote, Frances D. Gage, Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were significant leaders for women’s suffrage. Frances D. Gage made a speech called “Ain’t I a Woman”, and “rebutted the claim of a minister that women were too weak and fragile to vote” (Haesly). Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton believed men and women were alike and equal. Elizabeth Cady Stanton made a speech as well about women having the right to vote. Susan B. Anthony proved her statement by voting illegally, thus resulting in her arrest. These three women made a change in the government opening the doors of opportunity to

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defined gender roles that have significantly influenced society throughout history are not empowering for women. Instead, they have limited women and their progress. While gender roles have become less institutionalized in the last century, they still hold significant social power. They often appear subtly, especially in the progressive age we live in today, where equality is becoming a much more inclusive and tolerant concept in many areas of the world. However, they continue to play a large role in…

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