Status of Western-European Women in Classical and Post-Classical Eras

Status of Women in Western Europe (C/C) 1750-1914

Throughout the classical and postclassical eras, it is evident that women have always held a certain label whether it be positive or negative. This was evident throughout various regions such as the Middle East, Africa, Americas, and Europe. The time period from 1750-1914 was also an era of industrialization, in places especially like Europe. New machinery and a grand-scale labor force was required to allow the country to prosper as much as possible. From 1750 to 1914, the status of women in Western Euope changed through an increase in employment opportunities and through the earning of women’s rights, however, female labor in designated households was invariably evident.

Around 1850 C.E., more occupations, especially in machine and factory-based work became open for female employment. Industrialization in Western Europe brought forth the invention of the typewriter, an instrument that was then used in many offices and corporations. This opened up the industry for many women who were given employment as typists for the majority of it. Industrialization also gave birth to an impressive number of jobs that needed to be filled. At often times, women were able to fill simply job positions such as being a teacher or shopkeeper. Women even made advances in the medical field and some were even able to acquire the distinguished position of a doctor.

In the early 1900s, women began to gain more individual rights through the suffrage movements, which gave women a chance to cast a ballot and vote. Typically, these organizations stayed non-militant and were often not as aggressive, however, when major leaders stepped up to support the movement, many women were able to join in and make their voices heard. Leaders such as Millicent Fawcett and Mrs. Pankhurst were part of the upper-middle class, however, they opted for all women to be able to vote and thus gave way to the vast number of women who followed in their steps. Typically, leaders like Fawcett and Pankhurst were wealthier, however, some women (who were part of the working class) also began their own campaigns. As the support for women’s rights grew, women were soon given the freedom to cast a vote.

Throughout the period from 1750-1914, women would typically work in their husbands’ homes and would perform house duties at a very basic and fundamental level. Women would generally wait until they found a man that would marry them.