Women In The Antebellum Period

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The women of the antebellum period lived during exciting times Changing times as it were. Thought women were hardly on the same social level as their male counterparts, society was beginning to afford women of this period increased opportunities. There was indeed a noticeable change in the social attitude towards women which took affect just prior to the Civil War. (Women in Antebellum America, n.d.). Some of the social changes that were taking place are things we often take for granted today such as the ability for women to receive an education without any consequences or repercussions. The work force began to hire women, however salaries and available positions were not as bountiful as their male counterparts. (Women in Antebellum America, …show more content…
Generally speaking women were not trained via professional instruction until after the war. The women prior to the war often honed their skills by experience. Midwives also played an important role in the antebellum time period, which was also dominated by females during the 19th century. As time marched on however, the woman’s role in medicine began to reduce drastically. Doctors rose to prominence, and since a certification was required to practice medicine in this manor, women’s numbers began to dwindle. (Women in Antebellum America, n.d.). The likelihood of a woman being able to pursue a career as a doctor was slim to almost none due to the fact that most medical schools were administrated by men. There were some women that were able to transcend the preverbal glass ceiling and find a way to study medicine at a doctoral level. Perhaps the two most well-known are Elizabeth and Emily Blackwell. (Women in Antebellum America, …show more content…
There is an indirect relationship between the feminism, temperance and abolition. (Women in Antebellum America, n.d.). Feminist’s main goal during this time was to try and gain recognition at an extremely high political level. In 1848 their hard work payed off. The state of New York laid the foundation for women to be heard at the political level. The Married Woman’s Property Act guaranteed women the same rights as a man to own property, regardless of whether it was purchased or inherited. The state later saw it fit to amend the law and for the first time afforded women the opportunity to invest money and perform business actions in their own names. This was a significant addition to the fight for women’s equality. For the first time women were allowed and recognized to take legal ownership of their possessions without permission form a man be it her husband or