Iron Jawed Angels

Women’s rights were not always a part of society as it may seem in today’s world. Suffrage can date all the way back to 1776. Women had to fight for their rights and privileges, hard and for many years. In the late 1800’s women were seen as much less than a male and had no voice. Women were arrested, prosecuted and put down for wanting more freedom and power for their gender. As you see in many suffrage ads, women were desperate and wanted so badly the same equality as men. A few women in particular stood up for what they believed was right and fought hard. Although it took far too long and over 100 years, in 1920 women were finally given the opportunity to share the same voting rights as men. History had been made.

Iron Jawed Angels is a film which portrays the women's suffrage movement during the 1920's. The film is a documentary and a drama which uses live action and music to deliver the sympathetic and distressful mood the film creates. An example of the distressful mood is when the suffragists refuse to eat when they go to prison. This shows how passionate and distressed the suffragists are to get the 19th amendment passed, which would give women the right to vote. The films message, which is the hardships and adversity women had to withstand to get the 19th amendment passed, is effectively portrayed because the struggle the suffragists faced is accurately and beautifully depicted. As a tool of communication, the strengths

Three Years after “Speech before Congress” was delivered by Carrie Chapman Catt, a well-known leader of the women 's suffragist movement were women granted the right to vote and receive all rights as citizens. Catt’s speech was a major stepping stone for Congress to pass the 19th amendment. She was able to deliver her speech in a manner, which was persuasive to congress because it encompassed all the rhetorical appeals. Not only did she describe benefits to enfranchising women, she also spoke to the patriotism of her audience to further her cause. Catt crafted her argument by presenting herself with authority and knowledge, she also used undeniable logic by referring historical precedence, and she evoked sympathy in her audience by describing the trials of disenfranchised women to create a powerful argument.

In the early days, women didn’t shared the same rights as men because women were seen as maintaining their position at homes and leaving men in politics just because they were seen as delicate compared to men (which in other words showed women unequal to men). However, it was just a matter of time when women realized that they’re not receiving their basic rights in the United States. This lead women fight against inequality but, it wasn’t easy at all because they had to face long struggle known as women’s suffrage movement that give the women right to vote. That’s why the 19th amendment was the results of decades of efforts that women put in order to get granted officially with the right to vote in the form of an amendment to the constitution. Which states that “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account for sex.” However, it’s important to know that women didn’t see the right to vote just as the opportunity to participate in the process of choosing the leader of the country but instead, they saw the right to vote as a symbol of recognition. Due to the fact that, it will give them and the others the recognition of their existence in the nation along with giving them the right to speak against the events and matter that will affect their life (Cote). I believe that the 19th amendment about the voting rights of women was passed mainly because several generations of women's lectured,

Darkness reigned over America as women fought for their freedom. Women suffered from discrimination based on gender for decades, always subordinate to men. This led to protests across the nation during the Progressive Era, and started a 72 year long dispute. After years of discrimination, an amendment finally passed in the states granting women more freedoms and less gender discrimination. Due to the change, America was led into a better future. The Nineteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution was finally passed which legalized women’s right to vote and created a voice for women.

The Women’s Suffrage Movement of the 1920’s worked to grant women the right to vote nationally, thereby allowing women more political equality. Due to many industrial and social changes during the early 19th century, many women were involved in social advocacy efforts, which eventually led them to advocate for their own right to vote and take part in government agencies. Women have been an integral part of society, working to help those in need, which then fueled a desire to advocate for their own social and political equality. While many women worked tirelessly for the vote, many obstacles, factions, and ultimately time would pass in order for women to see the vote on the national level. The 19th Amendment, providing women the right to vote, enable women further their pursuit for full inclusion in the working of American society.

The 19th amendment was the true beginning of the women's fight for their rights, because the right to vote provides a powerful voice. In the twenties, women were discriminated - sadly, they still are - so society didn't let them vote. However, women didn't accept it, and they began to fight for their right to vote. Senator Aaron A. Sargent introduced the Nineteenth Amendment to the Congress, which prohibited denying the right of vote to U.S. citizens based on their sex. In 1919, the Congress passed the amendment, and in 1920 it was ratified. Today, women not only can vote, but they also have participation on the government, for example Madeleine Albright. She was the first woman that became the Secretary of States on the United States. Even

During the early 1920s in the United States, women began noticing their social roles change with the improvement in the economy. As people’s standards of living began to improve, women’s job opportunities and social standings did as well. The 19th Amendment, passed in 1919, granted women the right to vote, and boosted women’s morale throughout the nation. The principal change was seen to have occurred after the armistice of

August 26, 1920 was perhaps one of the greatest victories of the century for women. When the polls opened, women and men stood next to each other and casted a vote that held the same importance. The landmark acceptance of the Nineteenth Amendment changed the way of life for American Women forever. "We were sixteen women sitting in sixteen chairs, longing to stand." (Dubois 250) Before the passing of the Nineteenth Amendment, women were shunned and placed in the background of a male dominated stage.

Social and economic inequality became a prevalent issue during the Triangle Shirtwaist strike of 1909. Led by Clara Lemlich, 20,000 immigrants, mostly young women, demand a twenty percent pay raise, a fifty-two hour workweek, and a closed shop (59). Consequently, their actions gain a significant amount of attention and catch the eye of Alva Belmont and Anne Morgan, wealthy progressive reformers who perceive the strike as an opportunity to advocate their own objective: women’s suffrage. Carnegie and Sumner believe that efforts to change the natural order are futile, but Morgan professes that after learning about the details of the strike, she, alongside other upper class women, would not be able to live their lives if they did not help the strikers (72). These affluent women demonstrate their support from both sides of the spectrum, from the ribbons and buttons Rose Pastor

The 19th amendment opened up a door of opportunity for women to achieve more rights. Many new laws were created in effect of the

Women reformers adopted the arguments that they could bring moral and maternal instincts to political matters if they were granted the right to vote. This new approach was highly effective in gaining support towards woman suffrage because women showed that they could bring certain things to politics that men could not. Therefore, a well-rounded political system sounded appealing to the public and seized their support. The moral and maternal approach to woman suffrage showed the public why female input in political matters would be advantageous to the overall political system. As a result, different states began to recognize what they were missing out on and eventually approved woman suffrage. While the trend was in motion, women reformers wanted to take the movement a step further. Even though they were participating in political and social matters, they still did not have the right to vote. Therefore, women still did not have the political power that they truly desired. Without the legal right to vote in politics, their power was still very limited. As a result, women reformers campaigned for a national constitutional amendment to gift all women with the official right to vote. Finally, in 1920, Congress approved the 19th amendment and it was ratified by the states. “The Nineteenth Amendment to the Federal Constitution declares that ‘The right of

In Anthony’s fourth paragraph, she discusses the idea that if women really are not citizens then they are subjected to living in an oligarchy. This raises an emotional response in the audience because women do not want to and should not have to be forced into being the lesser. Anthony’s second paragraph, in which she discussed the perception of mockery women were subjected to, also raises an emotional response in the audience. For example, “And it is a downright mockery to talk to women of their enjoyment of the blessings of liberty while they are denied the only means of securing them provided by this democratic-republican government- the ballot.” this statement evokes emotion because it allows the audience to see the humiliation women faced on a day to day basis (Anthony paragraph 2). The fact that women were not allowed to vote and were spoken to as if they enjoyed their liberty of law invokes embarrassment in the audience. This was effective because it allows the male members of the audience to feel the way the women did, in certain instances.

Accordingly, frontier women gained the right to vote and over time other states granted females suffrage, in full or in part. Women became influential in elections and had an effect on who was elected into Congress. These members were then more obligated to vote for a women’s suffrage amendment to the Constitution. Finally, in 1920 the 19th Amendment was passed in part due to these members of Congress and because women had played a major role in supporting the country during World War I. The amendment stated that nobody could be denied the right to vote based on their gender. This was a great stepping stone for females that allowed them to participate in the world of politics and decide who their leaders were. No longer was the woman a voiceless bystander.

Women's rights and responsibilities have changed a lot between the 19th and 21st centuries. Starting from the 19th century, women have progressed in almost every year. Women can now work, get an education, own property, and vote. Women also have more responsibilities in the household than they use to. With these changes, women are now almost equals to men. (Women Empowerment Vital)