Women's History in the US: 1877-Present

This essay examines the evolution of women's roles in the United States from 1877 to the present, highlighting four major events: the formation of the International Council for Women, the granting of women's suffrage in 1920, women's inclusion in military services in 1942, and their participation in combat roles in 2013. The essay argues that these events demonstrate a significant shift towards gender equality, despite the challenges and societal resistance faced by women throughout this period. It also discusses the changing perceptions of women's capabilities and their increasing contributions to society, concluding that women have made substantial progress in achieving respect and dignity.

FINAL PAPER

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN ARGUMENT.......................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCE..................................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
The topic that is taken into consideration in the given report is “Women”. Herein, in the
respective report history of United States Women will be discussed. This report will basically
describe four major events that had happened between 1877 to the present. Earlier or before the
period of 1877, women are not given that much importance (Permeswaran, 2008). In the family,
their role was limited to taking care of family and raising their children. However, from the year
1877 to present there were some events happened that had strengthened the role of women in
society.
Thesis statement
In accordance with the given context, it can be said that this report will basically argue
that from the year 1877 to present women had been considered as equal in comparison to men.
For example, between 1877 to 1945 period women got a right to vote. Similarly, in the
respective period only health, peace and education were promoted for worldwide women. On the
other hand, from 1945 to present, men had recognized the working capability of women and thus
now women are working in the various recognized organization.
However, with an aim to gain the respective position there are a number of challenges
was being faced by them. In the given study, detailed analysis will be carried out on the given
aspect only. With an aim to do the same, assistance will be taken from different sources.
MAIN ARGUMENT
In relation to the development of women, there is a number of events has happened from
the year 1877 to the present. The event such as the International Council for Women can be
considered as one of the biggest achievement of the year 1888 for women. The main aim of the
respective council is to advocate for the rights of women all over the world. This can be regarded
as a very first step that is being taken for the women of the nation.
However, in relation to the given aspect, the biggest challenge that the respective council
had faced is to make changes in the mindset of people in relation to the role of women in the
country. This is because in a man dominated nations, women are not considered as an important
part. Thus, while making any kind of decisions they are not involved in any kind of process.
However, the given thing had effectively resolved with the help of International Council for
Women. The given council had made other people understand that both men and women have
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equal rights. In addition to this, women also have a right to get an education and contribute to the
success of the nation in an effectual manner. In this regard, it can be depicted that from the year
1888, people of nations had started giving consideration to the women, but still, they do not have
the right to a vote for the welfare. This had happened because even though the presence of a
given council much changed had not been seen in the mindset of the male dominating nation.
Herein, from the primary analysis, it was examined that Susan B. who had initiated for
the 1872 Federal election voting had been prosecuted by the US officer (Anthony, 1872). The
respective thing gives an indication of the role of women in history. In accordance with the given
context, it can be depicted that respective thing indicates that even though the presence of
International Council for Women; the women of the nation had not gained all the rights that they
used to deserve. Hence, if they had put their vote then in this situation they were being
threatened by the police officer for the criminal charges.
From the given thing, it can be said that granting the right of voting to women is being
regarded as another most significant change or the achievement that had happened in the year
1920. Thus, it is a second event in which the 19th amendment was quietly signed by the Secretary
of State Bainbridge Colby into the law. The respective event tends to showcase the change in the
mindset of a male in relation to the women right. This thing also gives an indication that from the
specific point only, the people of the nation had given importance to the women for giving a
vote. On the other hand, from that point, only women are considered at an equal pace in
comparison to men. This is due to the reason, it has been seen that a nation is able is to flourish if
all individual in the society will work for the benefit of it. Here, it is because of the given reason
only giving voting rights to women is very much important. In addition to this, it is also
examined that in 1920, a significant change had occurred in the process of giving equal right to
women for making a decision about the nation.
But, in relation to giving voting power to women, one big challenge that had occurred in
the year 1920 was to make women understand about their right to vote. This has happened
because there were many American women who used to have this mindset that if they will try to
equalize themselves with a male then in this situation their femininity would be sacrificed. There
were many women who do not want to give up the essential feature of the female. Here, they had
a fear in their mind that if they will come in the public arena then in the given situation their
natural role of being a mother and wife of an individual will be lost. Hence, in 1920 the
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challenge was not only coming from the side of men but it was also coming from the side of
women also. In this context, a famous quote is there “If you will not help yourself then no one
else could”. In this regard, to make women understand that the right to give the vote to others
will not make any changes in their feminist character. However, it will basically improve their
position in the male dominating country in an effectual way.
But, in relation to the women suffrage big achievement was that only the constitution of
the United States had finally accepted the 19th amendment. After that amendment women had
also realized the importance of their own vote. Thus, it was the major thing that had happened in
the year 1920 in an effectual way.
Besides this, from the year 1920 to 1945, there were further changes that were also
recorded in relation to the role of women in the nation in an effectual way. In the year 1942, an
event took place in which women were allowed to give their services in the military. It could be
considered as another biggest achievement for the respective period. Herein, the primary source
also depicts that from the year 1920, women had started taking employment in the different type
of services. Thus, from the given year a completely new face of women had developed.
However, during that time women were giving their services in the professions like teachers and
administration etc (U.S. Department of Labor, 1925). Thus, in the year 1920, the United States
government had never realized that women could be involved in the army services also. The
given thing can be considered as another big change that had incurred in the year 1945.
Herein, it can be depicted that in the military service the main role of women is to
provide nursing services to the soldier who got injured during the war. Thus, in the given
situation women had to present in the war location. Herein, the biggest challenge was that is to
make other people understand that women can work in the war location. This is due to the reason
that male militant used to had the mindset that a female candidate cannot work in the war
location. This is because they do not have the courage to work in a location where people are
buried and killed for the sake of their own nation. However, the respective thought had also
degraded the motivation of female also. But, still, in the year 1942, a step is being taken by the
Chief of Staff General George Marshall with regard to involving women in the military.
This can be considered as another most effective accomplishment with regard to the role
of women all over the world. This thing had shown to the whole world that women can do
anything and she is not inferior in comparison to men in an effectual way.
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Furthermore, the major development happened in the year 2013. It is the fourth major
event in which women had start serving their services in the combat role in the military. Here,
before the period of 2013 women were not involved in the combat activities because male
militant used to consider that female do not have the power to deal with other male soldiers. But,
a gradually significant change also occurred in the given aspect only (Merriam, 1978). But, in
relation to bringing this change the challenge was to make high command of military understand
that women are also capable of performing work in combat. Thus, there was various discussion
was held in the assembly of the United States. Thus, finally in 2013, the ban on women for
coming in combat position was revoked. Thus, from that time equal right was being assigned to
women in an effectual way.
CONCLUSION
From the whole study, it can be concluded that there is a number of changes have
occurred in the role of women from the year 1877 to the present. In this regard, there was a
number of events had happened in history that has helped in the process of giving equality
position to the women all over the world in an effectual way. For example, earlier the role of
women was not considered as that much important in society. In this context, their role was
basically limited to raising their children as well as performing different household related work.
However, history gives a clear indication that how women role in society has developed.
However, during the given journey there were a number of challenges examined that had
incurred in the path of women. The challenges were overcome and now women live their life full
of respect as well as dignity. On the other hand, nowadays no compassion is being made between
both men and women. This is because, at present, they are not being judged and being put up in
the equality position in an effectual way. Thus, it has been found out that from last many years
women have progressed a lot.
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REFERENCE
Primary sources
Anthony, S. (1872). Letters & Diary Entries of Susan B. Anthony Concerning Her Casting a
Vote in the 1872 Federal Election. [Online]. Available through: < http://www.famous-
trials.com/anthony/441-voteletters >. [Accessed on 19th March 2019].
Annotation: This is basically a primary source that I have found out from the Ashford Library.
This source is basically a letter that is being written by women to the election council. Here, she
is explaining the council about her right for giving a vote. This letter will assist in giving support
to the argument that is being related to women right to vote related event.
U.S. Department of Labor. (1925). Facts about working women: a graphic presentation based
on census statistics and studies of the women's bureau. Bulletin of the Women's Bureau
(46). Washington Government Printing Office. [Online]. Available through:
<https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/files/docs/publications/women/b0046_dolwb_1925.pdf>.
[Accessed on 19th March 2019].
Annotation: This is also a primary source that is being taken from the Ashford Library. The
given source basically discusses various facts that are related to working women. With the help
of the given source, the idea can be taken in relation to the type of jobs being performed by the
women.
Secondary source
Merriam, A. H. (1978). Racism in the Expansionist Controversy of 1898-1900. Phylon
(1960), 39(4), 369-380.
Annotation: This secondary source is also taken from the Ashford Library. This article is related
to the racism in the United States. Here, with the help of given article detailed
information can be taken in relation to the condition of women in society in an effectual
manner.
Permeswaran, Y. (2008). The women's army auxiliary corps: A compromise to overcome the
conflict of women serving in the army. The History Teacher, 42(1), 95-111.
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Annotation: The given source is retrieved from Ashford Library. This article basically provides
details in relation to the problem that is being faced by women while serving the nation
or making a decision to join the army services in an effectual manner. Thus, through the
respective source, only support can be given to the events after 1945 that are related with
the presence of women in military.
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