Eleanor Smeal Research Paper

Women have been downgraded and mistreated because of their gender. From birth, Women and Men grew up with very different rules to follow. Men were raised to be the head of the house and do work for a living. Growing up as little girls, women were taught to raise their kids and make food for their families. “Strong family structures were necessary because the family was the basis for all other institutions. The government, church, and community all worked through the nuclear family unit.”(“Gender and

After more than 200 years of living under the United States Constitution and despite all of the progress women have made, they still to this day continue to suffer discrimination in employment, insurance, health care, education, the criminal justice system, social security and pensions, and just about any other area you can name.

Throughout the nation’s history, American’s have sought to put an end to discriminatory practices and bring equality toward minority groups. For example, Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation and Martin Luther King Jr.’s I Have a Dream speech were directed at putting an end to mistreatment of African Americans. Likewise, Jane Adams and Susan B. Anthony used their authority as women’s rights activists to push for greater equality amongst the genders. While some may argue that women are lagging behind in the race to equal rights, others claim the opposing approach. In today’s society, women are achieving true equality due to a shift in the old stereotypes toward women, increasing opportunities for women to become educated, higher expectations for women in the workplace, and a stronger influence of women in government positions.

Eleanor Roosevelt was very influential in the policies of the New Deal, and also spoke very openly in support of civil rights and women’s rights. She worked to expand the amount of women in the Roosevelt administration and said that women should still be able to have jobs even if their husbands were employed. She supported the Southern Tenant Farmer’s Union and promoted the inclusion of blacks in the government. Eleanor visited migrant camps, coal mines, and the homes of sharecroppers. She also founded many programs to help people who were affected by the Great Depression.

Not only is she a role model to women, but to people who treat others equally. As women’s dilemmas, children treatment, and human rights have alleviated over the past five and a half decades, Roosevelt has not only made America great again, but the

Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962), one of the most admired women in American history, acted as first lady from 1933 until 1945, longer than any other presidential spouse, and put that position on the nation’s political map. Yet, ironically, Eleanor did not want the job because she thought it would hamper her own self-development as an independent person. Through her own path-breaking efforts she transformed her role from official hostess to important spokesperson for her husband’s administration. In the process she became a role model for millions of Americans who applauded her activism on behalf of social causes.

     The author, Susan Ware, begins by laying the groundwork for the women’s network. During the 1930’s, many different organizations began to evolve to include women in their decision-making. The backbone to this movement seems to lie deep within the White House. The First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, held a great

Across cultures and throughout history, women have experienced ongoing systemic oppression; and they have responded with progressive movements of protest and creative alternatives. Harriet Tubman in the fight against slavery: Fannie Lou Hamer for voting rights: Ella Baker and Mary White Ovington in the civil rights movement: Rosa Luxemburg in the German socialist movement: Winnie Mandela in the anti-apartheid movement: Puerto Rican independence leader and poet Lolita Lebron: and American Indian movement activists Anna Mae Aquash, Ingrid Washinawatok, and Winona LaDuke (Mink and Navarro). Women have pioneered in movements for labor rights, prison reform, reproductive rights and health, education, affordable housing, affirmative action and equal rights, human rights, and environmental safety. These women’s leadership styles span a range from soft to harsh, from wielding individual, hierarchical power to possessing a commitment to collectivism, and from identifying as “woman as caretaker of life” to woman as requiring and utilizing equal power to man. There is no one characteristic that applies to all women as social change leaders (Hurtado).

For centuries women had had to bow to men they were taught never to speak unless called upon or spoken to. That their sole purpose in life was to be a homemaker; a servant to the men in their lives fathers, brothers, sons. As time progressed women began to fight for their right to receive equal rights, education and vote. But that wasn’t enough in the year 2013 women still made eighty cents to every man’s dollar but that all changed one day. Women who were sick of being oppressed had risen up against the male chauvinism within society of the united states.The first measure was to take all men out of all positions of decision-making power immediately, and of any kind of social, professional position whatsoever. The men of society were

Eleanor Roosevelts was a key figure on the women’s work force movement. Eleanor Roosevelt put pressure on her husband’s administration to have more women in the workforce (Scharf). Eleanor Roosevelt became aware of the barriers women faced while working with other women on other social justice issues. Eleanor Roosevelt worked tirelessly to make women feel equal in the workplace (Scharf). Without Eleanor Roosevelt 's intervention it would have been harder for women to find a work place (Scharf). Eleanor dedicated her life to improving the work force for women.

Susan B. Anthony once said, “I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand.” (Brainy Quote) Susan B. Anthony is a recognizable name, but one that is not rightfully credited for the equal society we live in today. During her time, “equal” was a feared term for many American citizens, and at the mention of this word, many turned their heads. To some, equal meant white, middle-class men giving away their to control to those who were “unfit” to have any sort of decision-making role in society; women and African American’s. Whether it was her Quaker upbringing or her inborn strength, Susan B. Anthony refused to live in a world where any type of person was treated unequally. Although she started as an abolitionist and temperance movement activist, she went on to become one of the most influential suffragists in United States History. Susan B. Anthony’s fiery passion and courage regarding the equal rights of all people, regardless of gender or color, started a revolutionary movement that impacted not only the United States, but the entire world.

From the beginning time the woman has just as many rights the man has. At the first creation the male and the female were equal and they share the same name. Genesis chapter five verse 2, and God called their name Adam. It’s the lack and the inability that a man can’t accept woman to be equal to a man. I know many women that are the bread winners of their family. In America with the divorce rate at 53% women are raising these children with the help of State and Federal in some cases. Where are most of the fathers? There were women have been a part of the war effort since the Revolutionary War, but in the early days of our nation they had to cloak themselves in disguise to serve alongside men. In my opinion women are allow to fight on the battlefield along with men, but not have the same rights as men do. There are three major subjects I would like to discuss where women are being mistreated.

Gloria Steinem, famous for being one of the faces of the second wave of feminism, was not always a great feminist leader. As a child, she had a great role model to be able to look up to: her grandmother, Pauline Perlmutter Steinem, was the leader of the Ohio Woman Suffrage Association, a delegate to the 1908 International Council of Women and the first female member of the Toledo Board of Education. She experienced a lot of sexism in her career, she even had to use a man’s name to start her journalism career. But, she soon became a respected writer after she went “undercover” as a Playboy bunny and wrote about the sexism in the job. Steinem also got involved in politics; in 1970 she testified in the Senate in favor of the Equal Rights Amendment.

The right to education, the right to freedom, the right to having a voice, or the right to simply wander and explore were snatched away from females and are never to be seen again because of their gender. The innocence of a child is also taken without a second thought; the first day of school, school performances, graduation, prom, earning a driver’s license, falling in love, and making all the wrong decisions, to name a few situations. The simple moments in life that we take for granted are all wrenched out of our grasps because war is a time of sexism, violence, discrimination, injustice and inequality, not simplicity and peace Even now in society, women are constantly being taken for granted. They are seen as being weak, frail, soft, vulnerable, helpless, quiet and timid. We, as females, have evolved and stepped up in society since that dark era. We have become international leaders, we have provided opportunities for millions of people, we are compassionate and helpful to those in need and are now recognized as some of the most powerful and influential individuals internationally. Take Michelle Obama, Beyoncé, Hilary Clinton, Ellen DeGeneres and Melinda

It is worthwhile to reflect on the social and political advancements of women during the past one hundred years. Women now have the right to vote and to own property. They let their voices be heard instead of sitting silently in the kitchen. Women hold jobs previously restricted to men - police officer, firefighter, construction worker, doctor, truck driver and scientist. Obviously, this list is not all inclusive. Unfortunately, there is still one area that remains restricted to women. Women have assisted the military forces as far back as the Revolutionary War and yet there remains positions that women are excluded from. Female military personnel, having proven their ability to handle combat situations and having