Gender inequality can be quite different when considering the varying perspectives of all different kinds of women throughout history. For a middle class white woman of the 19th century, gender inequality can be as simple as “men are superior to women” and because of that they have rights and privileges women don’t, but for a black woman of the 20th century, gender inequality isn’t just defined by men being superior to women because the sexism black women face is affected by racism.
In “Declarations of Sentiments and Resolutions”, Elizabeth Cady Stanton describes a“history of repeated injuries and usurpations on the part of man toward woman” to explain how women are treated unequally in society (Stanton). A few of the injuries she mentions includes women not being able to vote, not being held to same legal or moral standards as men, and being limited to subordinate roles in almost all aspects of everyday life including religion and civil life.
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Gender oppression doesn’t exist by itself; it is interlocked with many other oppressions such as class and racial oppression (Williams lecture, 10/6/2016). The women’s movements of Truth’s time were focused on fighting against sexism that mainly only white women faced that ignored relations of power between white people and black people. For Truth, the most significant issue in relation to gender inequality is that the issues of slavery and race are being pushed aside because the women’s movement only wants to focus one issue. Truth doesn’t quite propose a solution to this problem in her speech; she instead wants her voice and the voices of other black women to be
However, the hardships and misfortunes of other groups of women due to race, religion, sexual orientation, etc are not often mentioned because feminism has a widespread message and definition worldwide. In the United States, black women or any women with darker skin complexions were treated inhumanely and did not, also still today did not benefit from white privilege. As explained, referring back to the era of slavery up until the American Revolution black enslaved women were mistreated due to the color of their skin and they were without a voice because of their lack of power in a society where man had more power over women and blacks were overpowered by those with lighter skin. Overall, it is important to note and realize that all women were subjected to unequal treatment due to many variables, but some women more than others because of certain variables as
Today, women and men have equal rights, however, not long ago men believed women were lower than them. During the late eighteenth century, men expected women to stay at home and raise children. Women were given very few opportunities to expand their education past high school because colleges and universities would not accept females. This was a loss for women everywhere because it took away positions of power for them. It was even frowned upon if a woman showed interest in medicine or law because that was a man’s place, not a woman’s, just like it was a man’s duty to vote and not a woman’s.
Women, like black slaves, were treated unequally from the male before the nineteenth century. The role of the women played the part of their description, physically and emotionally weak, which during this time period all women did was took care of their household and husband, and followed their orders. Women were classified as the “weaker sex” or below the standards of men in the early part of the century. Soon after the decades unfolded, women gradually surfaced to breathe the air of freedom and self determination, when they were given specific freedoms such as the opportunity for an education, their voting rights, ownership of property, and being employed.
All women should hold rights equal to men because a society governed by men and women as a unit would promote stability and peace. In “The Destructive Male” written by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Stanton argues through diction and the employment of ethos, pathos, and logos that giving rights to women, and allowing women to hold positions in politics and government, would be beneficial to the whole of society.
Many ancient laws and beliefs show that women from all around the world have always been considered inferior to men. However, as time went on, ideas of equality circulated around and women started to demand equality. Many women fought for equality and succeeded in bringing some rights. However, full equality for women has yet to be fulfilled. This issue is important because many women believe that the rights of a person should not be infringed no matter what their gender is, and by not giving them equality, their rights are being limited. During the periods 1840 to 1968, total equality for women did not become a reality due to inadequate political representation, economic discrepancy, and commercial objectification.
Short Answers: define and give an example in two or three sentences (5 points each).
Women’s rights pioneer, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, in her speech, The Destructive Male, expresses her feelings about Women's suffrage in 1868, and brought to light the misconception that women are not equal to man and imply that men bring more destruction than restoration.
Women have been treated unequally since the beginning of time. Just recently have things began to change for the better for women and the future of our society. The increase in women’s equality rights will take time, but some day women and men will be treated equally. This cannot happen until each of us is able to look at a person and just see another individual, not a male or a female, white or black, rich or poor… a person as just a person.
Gender discrimination is the action of being treated worse than others, simply because of your gender. It can occur once or continually over time, by the opposite or same sex. It is an illegal practice here in the United States, based on laws enacted in 1963-4.
Stanton examines how the men have undermined rights of women. According to Stanton, the government has continuously failed to acknowledge the rights of women making it a man’s government. Stanton mentions that when a government becomes destructive towards its people, then the people have the right to refuse allegiance to that government. For this reason, women have been necessitated to demand equality in rights for which they are entitled. To prove the fact that the rights of women have been neglected, Stanton has given several examples of how men have established a direct tyranny over the women. For example, women have been denied access to representation in political issues giving the men full control of the government. Another example is that laws recognise the man as the head of the family hence a married woman is civilly dead. Stanton later points out that given the unjust laws that do not recognize women, the women should feel aggrieved and oppressed and, therefore, they should demand that their rights and privileges be
Gender Inequality has always been in issue since the beginning of time. For some it’s not an issue it’s just a way of life, women are taught to be submissive and obedient to their male counterparts. Women’s sole purpose is to bear children, raise and nurture them, run the household as far as cooking and cleaning and to take care for their husband and his needs. This has been an idea that goes across many cultures in different parts of the world for centuries, passed down from generation and generations. Those days are long gone or are they really? Over the years women have made great strides in gaining equal rights as man, but for some cultures women are unequal to their male counterparts despite how far the fight for women equality have
Throughout the twentieth century, American women fought for the right to vote, the right to make choices regarding their own bodies, and the right to be their own people. The disparities between men and women were often overlooked or blindly accepted, but as Gloria Steinem said, “history is herstory too.” After nearly 200 years of struggling, women made up only 10% of Congress, received wages less than 75% of their male counter parts, and are stigmatized based on their class and race. By the end of the century, female citizens were still treated unfairly in every aspect of American society. Women did not achieve equality in America in the 20th century, based on their roles in politics, the widespread views of female sexuality, and the race, class, and gender ideals for women at the time. Although women have made progress in each of these areas, and more, they still have so far to come.
Through the intelligent use of various concrete appeals, Elizabeth Cady Stanton brings to light the injustices against women and provokes the audience to take action and form a better nation. Her words pull the heartstrings of the audience while adding emphasis to the wrongdoings happening every day. She calls for gender equality, not just in social life, but in civic and political as well. Among a plethora of inequality, her words ring true. “The right is ours,” she asserts. “The right is ours.”
To understand the concept of social inequality, one needs to explore how it occurs or functions. According to Charles Walker, “Social inequality refers to the ways in which socially-defined categories of persons are differentially positioned with regard to access to a variety of social ‘goods”. Social inequality, therefore, is an umbrella term. It is expansive in nature, as social inequality encompasses a variety of different inequalities; for example, gender, race, and structural inequality are all social inequalities, but they can differ widely in manifestation. The definition of social inequality can also change based on the perception of the individual who is defining the term.
Women have fought through torture, blood, sweat, and tears to help women stand strong in our