women activism

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Women's Activism in the 20th Century
History accounts for the great contributions of women in promoting social justice, particularly in uplifting the morale and functions of women in the society. From being the oppressed gender, various women managed to change the traditional roles of women by fighting for their rights to be heard and for them to given equal opportunities. These women boldly stood against gender stereotypes of women and proved the entire world that they could defy conventions. Particularly at the turn of the 20th century, women battled against the oppressions brought by patriarchy in different ways. These activist women had crusaded for the promotion of their civil rights, sexual freedom, and pursued careers which were once forbidden to them.
Activists women of the 20th century engaged in various crusades in order to emancipate women and change the conventional stereotyping society that continued to compartmentalized people according to their gender. Eleanor Roosevelt was one of those feminists who advanced the political and social freedom of women. Amidst the ongoing racial discrimination against certain groups of people, the Jews in particular, Roosevelt courageously opened the eyes of the people about the worldwide prejudices that were hindering the exercise of freedom of people (Cook “Reading 4” 535). Through her writings, she became very vocal about human rights abuses. In one of her articles, she rebuked the “kind of anticommunist hysteria that had resulted in fascist triumph and appeasement throughout so much of Europe” (Cook “Reading 4” 535). When virtually the entire America hated the Jews, some even called them “dogs”, Eleanor Roosevelt called for worldwide educational campaign to address the prejudi...

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...ase of Hurston and Friedan, they pursued careers in writing to write about the history of women in the perspective of women and not of men (Payne “Reading 5” 632; Horowitz “Reading 6” 577). They challenged the way the world of literature treated women who aspired to become writers themselves.
Women's activism has brought and is continuously causing changes in the country that are more liberating and emancipating of the women's rights and place in the society. With the help of brave, bold, and principled women, the status and roles of women in the nation have become more meaningful. Indeed, the 20th century was a turning point in the lives of many women. This was the time when women battled against the oppressions brought by patriarchy through crusading for the promotion of their civil rights, sexual freedom, and pursuing careers which were once forbidden to them.

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