A Comparative Analysis of Women's Empowerment Across Centuries

This essay provides a historical analysis of women's empowerment, tracing its evolution across the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. It examines the societal roles and opportunities available to women during these periods, highlighting the significant shifts in their status and rights. The essay draws upon key literary pieces such as "The Wife’s Victory," "Midwife Martha Ballard’s Diary," and "Marriage" to illustrate the changing perceptions and experiences of women. The 19th century is characterized by limited roles, while the 20th century witnesses advancements like suffrage and increased employment opportunities. The 21st century showcases further progress with women pursuing diverse careers and lifestyles. The essay concludes by emphasizing the dramatic and momentous transformation in women's empowerment over the centuries, from social constraints to greater independence and influence.

Running head: THE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN OVER THE CENTURIES
THE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN OVER THE CENTURIES
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

1THE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN OVER THE CENTURIES
Women occupy a very important place in our society and in the world. All over the
world, at some timeline, women have been subjected to discriminations, torture and agony.
At present, the concept of the equality of women is increasingly being promulgated by
countries all over the world. In the most remarkable sense, women have been achieving
higher education, gaining social importance and occupying pivotal positions at workplace.
Indeed, women are on the path to touch the pinnacle (Whyte 2015). However, there has been
a vast distinction between the timeline of the different centuries in terms of women
empowerment. This essay outlines the fact to portray the evolvement of the concepts of
women in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, keeping in consideration of the facts described in
the three literary pieces- The Wife’s Victory by Emma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte Southworth,
Marriage by Elizabeth Freeman and Midwife Martha Ballard’s Diary.
A good section of engaging documentation can be derived from the study of the two
pieces of literature- The Wife’s Victory and Midwife regarding the 19th century. This century
was popularly known as the Victorian Age due to the influence of the glorious rule of Queen
Victoria. Women were particularly segregated to men in the spheres of personal life, social
life and professional life. They were expected to conduct themselves as pure, docile and
compliant to their fathers, then to their husbands and when ultimately they grew old, to their
sons (Vicinus 2013). The scope of employment for women in that century was non-existent.
The distressed section of the society frequently earned their livelihood as house cleaners,
house servants, governesses and sex workers ("Southworth's The Wife's Victory", 2017).
While the refined section of the society were wedded into the noble and aristocratic family
and were confined into the four corners of their abode in the role of a dutiful wife and
subsequently as a mother. Apparently, the essence of marriage was paramount (Vicinus,
2013). Overall, it can be said that in the 19th century, women were kept at large and did not
have much of a role to perform in the society.

2THE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN OVER THE CENTURIES
The three scholarly pieces of The Wife’s Victory, Midwife and the Marriage provide
us with a brief idea about the concept of the emancipation of women. The 20th century was
marked by extensive scientific and economic modifications. Some intelligentsia of the society
was of the view that women must possess equal rights as enjoyed by men. Few developed
nations of the world such as New Zealand and United States of America have secured the
right to vote for women in their specific constitutions (Coppock et al. 2014). Women
gradually were given the access to undertake employment in the various sectors, including
the judiciary, defense, politics and civil service. Along with this, the prominence of marriage
was still prevalent in the society ("Martha Ballard's Diary Online", 2017). The presence of
women was becoming evident in all the high-profile global social affairs. Another important
note, which is worth mentionable here, is the invention of the birth-control pill, which indeed
transformed women into carefree independent beings. It was a miraculous transition, no
doubt. Overall, when the state of the 20th century is compared with that of the 19th century, it
can be said that the concept of women has improved largely.
The scholarly piece of Marriage by Elizabeth Freeman gives us a glimpse of the
present status of women in human society and in the world in the timeline of 21st century
(Freeman 2017). Nowadays, women have the opportunity to pursue any occupation or live a
lifestyle in accordance to her choice without any apprehension of social rejection or derision.
However, some sort of intolerance does exist in the society against women (Dicker, Rory and
Alison 2016). Nevertheless, with the procurement of higher education and the exposure to the
varied facets of the society, women hold the power to make progression in the same strides as
of men. The concept of marriage as the sole destiny of women has been diminishing rapidly
in the 21st century scenario. With great success and in their own will, women are also
wedding men of different races (Wetchler, Joseph and Lorna L 2014). Women are abounding

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in all the spheres of life, including sports, politics, bioscope and others. Overall, it can be said
in the 21st century, the role of women is considered to be influencing as well as formidable.
In the conclusion, it can be said that the concept of the evolvement of women has
been drastic and momentous over the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. In the 19th century, Women
were constantly subjugated under the shackles of social Puritanism and conservatism. Their
freedom of speech and movement were restricted and monitored on purpose. The advent of
the 19th century and the 21st century was a breath of fresh air for women all over the world.
After years of oppression and repression, women have finally reached the heights of
independence, excellence and eminence.

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References
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women, old myths. Routledge, 2014.
Dicker, Rory, and Alison Piepmeier, eds. Catching a wave: Reclaiming feminism for the 21st
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Freeman, Elizabeth. 2017. "Marriage."
Martha Ballard's Diary Online. 2017. Dohistory.org. Retrieved 16 November 2017, from
http://dohistory.org/diary/index.html
Southworth's The Wife's Victory. 2017. Utc.iath.virginia.edu. Retrieved 16 November 2017,
from http://utc.iath.virginia.edu/sentimnt/snfiedensat.html
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