Eleanor Roosevelt : Women 's Rights And Race Issues

Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was not always the person that everyone knows her as. She had to go through a lot to get to the places in American society that she did. Eleanor was an extremely influential lady of her time. People adored her once she obtained the position of respect she desired to make the changes in society that she wished would change. Eleanor Roosevelt played many important roles in American society, including speaking out for human rights and women’s issues, standing against racial discrimination, and visiting U.S. troops during World War 2.

Eleanor was surrounded and active in politics at a very early age. Before she turned ten both of her parents and one of her brothers had died. After, she was sent to a boarding school where she was tremendously impacted by her head governess. Eleanor was the niece of President Theodore Roosevelt and watched his wife play the role of hostess as the First Lady. Instead of running around with the elite, at age 17, Eleanor volunteered at a social service house meant to provide help to women and children in need. After seeing all the heartache they had been through, Eleanor joined the National Consumers League to protect women from employers looking to utilize them (One). In 1905. Eleanor married her fifth cousin Franklin D. Roosevelt, an aspiring

Eleanor Roosevelt was born on the 11th of October 1884 and went on to be one of the most symbolic characters in the history of the United States. She was the eyes and ears of her husband Franklin D. Roosevelt and not only participated in but revolutionized her role as the First lady of America. It is important to understand that the momentous achievements Eleanor Roosevelt accomplished in her lifetime were based on the personal experiences and hardships she had to overcome throughout her life.

From the late 1860’s to the early twentieth century women began to take a stance and began fighting for equality. Among these great leaders were Eleanor Roosevelt, an American politician, diplomat, and activist. In the white house, Roosevelt was one of the most active first ladies in history striving for political, racial, and social justice. Roosevelt worked with women’s groups around the nation to build their political base and performed a remarkable job at fighting for women’s rights before, during, and after her role as the First Lady. Eleanor Roosevelt successfully contributed to creating a more equitable and just society in many ways even though faced with a multitude of struggles for justice.

     Before Eleanor Roosevelt, the role of the first lady was not a political role; it was merely just a formal title of the president’s wife. Eleanor Roosevelt paved the way for all presidents’ wives to come by being active in politics during and after her husband’s presidency. Of course, she did not have instant success; she had many trials which helped her become an important and influential role model. Eleanor Roosevelt’s dedication to her husband, her activeness in politics, and her volunteer work enabled her to change the role of the First Lady.

Before she even became the first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt had already started to advance her own career. She taught in New York City at Todhunter, a private school for girls, and loved her job so much that even when she moved to Albany, she found a way to continue to work at Todhunter (Spangenburg 54). On top of teaching, in the 1920s, Roosevelt became active in the Democratic Party as she gave speeches and helped promote her husband’s nomination for governor of New York and later for the president of the United States (“Humanist”). Furthermore, by working as a teacher and becoming politically active, Roosevelt was able to be financially independent, something highly unusual for women during her time, and used the money she earned for her own

Eleanor Roosevelt once said “you must do the thing you think you cannot do”. Which represents how her confidence and authority influenced many women and Americans in her active role as First Lady. She had a great impact politically, which was represented by many of her great achievements. Eleanor Roosevelt had an extraordinary influence on women’s rights as well as the rights of others, which impacted history forever. Eleanor Roosevelt had an extraordinary influence on women’s rights, as well as the rights of others, that changed history dramatically.

The many accomplishments made by Eleanor Roosevelt benefited mankind in many ways. Her determination to get more equality for women helped to start organizations to get these rights. As an outspoken leader, she encouraged women of all kinds to speak out for the equal rights that men have too. She had changed the thoughts of people and what they thought the role of a woman was all about. This accomplishment was a great benefit to the women of society.

Without a doubt, she revolutionized the role of First Lady and continued to influence American’s lives. Being a First Lady, Eleanor created many firsts within the public role. Eleanor started to hold press conferences for women reporters only (“Eleanor Roosevelt”). Her everyday tasks included writing her newspaper column, giving lectures and speeches, writing books, responding to mail for the White House, visiting battlefields, and attending her many meetings with the different organizations she was involved. Eleanor was the first President’s wife to make her life more public and open. She became an international lady, often being referred to as the “First Lady of the World” (Bolton 295). Eleanor traveled as a representative for her husband, working as his eyes and ears. Often times, Eleanor would appear at different places unexpectedly to see what was really going on. At the end of her trips, she would report back to the President what her issues and concerns were and what the people she encountered thought (Gibo). While in the White House, Eleanor worked for people having equal rights. This also applied to the people that worked in the White House. The first thing that Eleanor actually did as the First Lady, was improve the working conditions of the servants in the White House (Bolton 304). One of her

Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was an amazing lady. Think about it though, what comes to mind when you hear her name? For most people you think first lady, but there is a lot of information in her childhood that led up to her becoming all that she was. She was born on the 11th of October in New York in 1884. Her parents were Anna Hall Roosevelt and Elliott Roosevelt. But little Eleanor didn’t have the greatest childhood. She was always known as a shy and observant girl and she often noticed her parents fighting. In one of her books she talks about how she can remember her mother laying on the bed crying while, she ran her fingers through her mother's hair to calm her down (www.gwu.edu).

Eleanor Roosevelt is one of the most famous First Ladies in history. Although she was awkward and shy as a child, she married Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and became an influential figure to the world as well as an inspiration to women everywhere in her own right. Eleanor was more than a president’s wife; she was an eloquent speaker, delegate of the United Nations, and overall an independent woman.

“Success must include two things: the development of an individual to his utmost potentiality and a contribution of some kind to one 's world” (Roosevelt, p 119, 1960). Eleanor Roosevelt was born in New York City October 11th, 1884 (Burns, 2012). Having grown up in a family considered to be in the top of society, Eleanor could have focused her life on parties and social gatherings. However, Eleanor came to the realization that she preferred social work rather than to attend parties with the rich (Burns, 2012). Eleanor is a perfect example of an effective leader in three ways, she was a lifelong learner, she used her position in life to better the society as a whole and she faced her many fears and flaws with life lessons she used later on.

Eleanor was not the traditional First Lady of the White House. She was entering a role of a woman she grew up to despise. She let the public know she wasn't going to be the ordinary sheltered white house first lady. She scheduled interviews with the press and made herself available to the public. She overturned formal conditions by trying to do things for herself like answering the door, and making lay workers feel as if she where the same as them. She also went against the norm and bought a Buick sports car instead of the traditional Lincoln. She wanted to live a normal life and not to be held up in royalty. Many people today associate Eleanor with Hillary Clinton. I think this is true. They both had leadership roles and enhanced their husband's career. A smart woman standing behind a president

As a young child, Roosevelt was very timid and was never interested in politics. Her mom referred to her as the “ugly duckling” and told her that “You have no looks, so see to it that you have manners.” (Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery) During this time period, women and children stayed home and did the chores while the men would work. About five years later, Roosevelt entered a school in England where she was “draw[n] out of her shell” (biography.com) Years later, she became involved in politics and helped in many charities that supported African American and world issues.

When Franklin became the president of the United States, Eleanor had to accept her role as the first lady. Mrs. Roosevelt was not like the First Ladies before her. She made her mark on society. She got involved in politics. Franklin saw her as his "eyes and ears" for she would tell him what was going on throughout the country with "real" people she had met while Franklin remained in Washington D.C. She was a very important part of the presidential team.