Women's role throughout history

Throughout history, women’s roles have changed drastically. As times changed so did the opportunities and demands. Women adapted significantly well to these new changes, and so they were able to influence and help shape these periods, as well as benefit from them. Women suffered from much discrimination, and were not allowed to attend universities, vote, speak in public or own any property. Also, they did not have a choice but to fight for their place in society. Regardless of all these difficulties, women gathered strength and succeeded in establishing permanent social changes.

In early America, the work as a wife was often along with her husband, running a household, farm or plantation. Cooking, making clothes, spinning yarn, sewing and weaving cloth took a major part of a woman’s time. Women played a huge role in the colonial times, revolutionary times, middle- class reform times, turn of the century times, 1920’s and 1960’s. All though these times were not easy for most women they still managed to get through it.

During the colonial times, work was extremely difficult, exhausting, and the rest of the people were unappreciative. In poor families, the women were mostly at home and played the house making role which meant they had to cook, clean, make clothing, take care of the animals, etc. In wealthy families, the women did the same but instead had a servant to help. It was normal to see a young girl married by the age of 13. If, by 25, they did not marry, they were not normal. This was mostly because of economic benefits and not because they wanted to or were in love. Parents did not educate their daughters because most families could not afford it. "Colonial parents were concerned about the expense of educating daughters, be...

... middle of paper ...

...on as long as it did not interfere with their housework. “Most scholars say that the Victorian Age was a time of escalating gender polarization as women were expected to adapt to a rigidly defined sphere of domestic and moral duties” (Clinton and Lunardini 40).

By the 1920's, women had been fighting for the right to vote for 72 years. This time consisted of drastic, and even shocking changes. The biggest change in the role of women was the “flapper.” These women cut all of their hair off and began to wear make-up. The flappers took many risks and were uncontrolled, they were also known for smoking, drinking and becoming sexually active. They also, changed the role of women in the 1920’s. They didn't care what people thought of them. They danced, drank, smoke, and partied. Also known as the "Roaring Twenties,” the 1920’s were a time of great change in America.