Women's Rights In The 1920s Essay

In the past women have taken on many different roles. Although women have freedom and are mostly equal to men today, they were oppressed for centuries in the United States. Unfortunately, this occurred because they were seen as being inferior to men. It wasn't until the 1920s that the women's rights movement was making a difference in society. Women were able to do so by finding the courage to create organizations and inspire those around them. The women's right movement in the 1920s was very successful and inspired more women to fight oppression and gain equal rights to men. (Unknown. "Topic Timeline.")

Before the 1920s in America, many women suffered severe oppression. They had no rights in the constitution, and they had no voice. Women

weren't allowed to go out alone and were prohibited to obtain a job or any source of income.

Instead, women would stay at home and be a housewife that attended to children and kept maintenance of the house. Women possessed no power against men and were not seen as equals to men. (History.com Staff. "The Fight for Women’s Suffrage.) It wasn't until the mid to late 1800s that women started having conventions advocating for women's rights. These conventions inspired national associations to be created and to inform the public that there needs to be change in society. The first women's rights convention was held in Seneca Falls, New York, 1848. In the end women and men signed a Declaration of Sentiments, which outlines and sets an agenda for the Women's Rights Movement. This declaration called for equal treatment of women and men under the law and voting rights for women. Even though this convention did not achieve those particular subjects on their own, they did inspire more people to join the Women's Rights movement in order to obtain them. In 1850, the first National Women's Rights Convention takes place in Worcester, Mass., attracting more than 1,000 participants. National conventions were held yearly through 1860. Attendance grew more and more with each meeting. Eventually large

organizations were created, such as the National American Woman Suffrage Association, The National Women's Trade Union League, and The National Association of Colored Women. Colored women had their own organization because even though they were fighting for the same cause, there was racism and discrimination going on at the same time. However, these organizations were the foundation of the rest of the movement. Without these associations, women in the 1920s and even today may not have earned and obtained the right to vote and equality to men that they had. (Dumenil, Lynn. "The New Woman and the Politics of the 1920S)
The 1920s were a time of devastation and celebration for many different reasons.

First off, World War I also known as the First World War, or the Great War, was a global war originating that was just ending. During the war women held many positions that men had left and they even stopped campaigning for their rights, to fill positions. When the war ended many men were in search for work and ultimately drove women employment down. Many businesses wanted to hire white males over any other gender or ethnicity. There was also a general assumption that women would and should go back to their previous engagement of being at home. Although, these major setbacks occurred in the Women's Rights Movement, women gained courage to start campaigning again. Women campaigned so much that finally, the 19th amendment was ratified. Ratified on August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted American women the right to vote. It did not however grant women full equality to men. This act of getting the 19th Amendment passed in Congress had many mixed responses about the 19th amendment and getting it passed, while many women were for it, men and other women were against change. It did take 60 years for every state to adopt this and Women did gain more respect and were even able to shred their old skin and start fresh. Many women took new opportunities and improved their education or went into the workforce. (NARA Staff. "19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Women's Right

to Vote (1920). Due to the new social status and a new sense of respect and importance, social changes were occurring right and left. Some women led new social changes and became a new hot topic. These scandalous women were known as Flappers. They were seen as fashionable young woman intent on enjoying herself and flouting conventional standards of behavior. Flappers did what society did not expect from young women. They danced, smoked, and they lived for the moment. They also wore skirts that were shorter than normal and were considered improper. These women inspired other to join in and become more full of life. The flappers were connected with the Women's Rights Movement because they showed women that there were rewards to rebelling against society. They also proved that social changes regarding women are important to continue. (Allen, Frederick L. "The Revolution in Manners and Morals."). These changes became more prominent in the Great Depression. Men and women had to work to provide for their families. Many women were able to obtain jobs because they could be paid less than men. They also made factory working and manual labor easier and safer for workers. These motions were able to occur because of the Women's Rights Movement and the social changes these organizations were after. (Palay, Claire. "Lea Miller's Protest: Married Women's Jobs at the University of Washington.")
In conclusion the women's rights movement was successful in the 1920s. Women got the 19th amendment passed in congress. Women also made manual labor changes to make workplaces safer. They also made a new image for themselves by becoming Flappers and against previous social normalities. The 1920s allowed women to express themselves in a completely different manner from what was previously thought of them. Women gained rights, and the freedom to express themselves however the choose to do so. The women's rights movement in the 1920s has even inspired new generations of women to defend their rights and gain equality to men.