Women 's Voting And Political Power

For the longest time, women’s role in society was very narrow and set in stone. Women weren’t given the chance to decide life for their own, and there was a very sharp distinction of gender roles. Women were viewed as inferior, weak, and dependant. They were expected to be responsible for the family and maintainance of the house. But as the 19th century began, so did a drastic change in society. Women started voicing their opinions and seeking change. Trying to break away from this ideology called “cult of domesticity” was a lengthy, burdensome, and demanding struggle.

This was certainly true in the 1860’s when women were not even allowed to vote for who they believe should represent the country. Around the world there are 32 countries that don’t guarantee gender equality. Included in the list of these 32 is the United States. The equal rights amendment would allow women equality in all areas of the constitution but this has not been ratified. Back in the 1860’s as well as today, we can see the affects of this inequality with the law and how it promotes discrimination. America is behind now Iceland and Rwanda with the 28th spot on the “Global Gender Gap Report”. In the late 1860s women were not participating in government, had minimal opportunities and participation in the work force. Though the Civil War had employed many women in factories, women were still heavily reliant on their husbands. In addition to working outside of the house, women during these times were also expected to be a housewife. Today, these aspects of society are still true. Currently in the United States, only 66 percent of women are employed, and only 19 perecent of our government is represented by women. Looking at these statistics, a direct connection can be seen between the gender inequalities today and in 1866.

August 26, 1920 was perhaps one of the greatest victories of the century for women. Now when the polls open women and men stand next to each other and cast a vote that holds the same importance. Every person should remember the time and effort it took to get here as they approach the poll booth. There was a struggle to over come and that struggle was won. The landmark acceptance of the Nineteenth Amendment changed the way of life in American forever.

Over the past five hundred years or so in america as the overall majority in Mankind, women comprise of the largest group in the world, but they are a vital asset in every aspect of our society. Woman and women's rights are tied hand in hand with american culture, which entails in these rights that they're dependent of social status, race, and geography in america like civil rights in the south. There were different types of economic changes for the different types of ethiniticities in America in which there were different of turning point that women won over their sufferage through their racial discrimination, these included the native american women, hispanic american, african americans and the chinese american women of the united states.

In A Woman’s Crusade, Alice Paul and the Battle for the Ballot, Mary Walton argues how important it is for women to actively know the history with their equality rights, and how Alice Paul and other women fought so hard for those rights throughout time. All through time women have fought for the right to vote, equal rights in the workplace, and rights for our own body, these fights have been so important for woman to move on in our society to been seen as equals and not the weaker sex. Moving back in time with Mary Walton’s book “A Woman’s Crusade,” in the early stages of women’s suffrage is an inspiring crusade of inspiration. Alice Paul started her early days as an eighth generation American Quaker, living a life as a Quaker Alice Paul

genders. Women may have the same political rights, however they are still degraded and seen as inferior to men. So, women in politics are now trying to prove that they are just as capable as men are. However, their attempts are being suppressed due to the inappropriate comments against them. Sexist remarks in the media against female political candidates is the reason why there is a smaller amount of women in government.

Women's Failure to Gain the Right to Vote between 1900 and 1914 In the years leading up to the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, women's suffrage was never far from the headlines due to the constant bombardment of publicity stunts pulled by Emmeline Pankhurst and her Suffragettes. Using all within their power to gain attention, the Suffragettes believed in using direct persuasion, and if necessary, violent protest to remain in the public eye, pulling stunts from chaining themselves to the railings of the houses of specific members of Parliament to smashing the shop windows on Oxford Street. At the other end of the spectrum were the Suffragists, who based their campaign entirely on their

Women first gained the right to vote on August 26, 1920 with the 19th amendment was approved, giving women full voting rights. Fortified by the constitutional victory in 1920, the handful of new women in Congress embarked on what would become a century-long journey to broaden women’s role in government. In the intervening years, the drive for more women’s rights encompassed the lives of the next generations of women. Even today, women are still fighting for their rights and stand up against prejudice. On the forefront of this movement are our women congresswomen who speak on behalf of all women. When Hillary Clinton announced her presidential candidacy, controversial questions immediately surfaced about the role of gender in politics. Through Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in 2008 and 2016, media is the principal propagator in showing bias and sexism.

Exploring Why Women Failed to Gain the Right to Vote Between 1900 and 1914 There were several reasons that women did not gain the right to vote between 1900 and 1914, both long-term and short-term. Long-term reasons include the opinion many people held at the time that women and men had ‘separate spheres’. They believed that women belonged in the private sphere- in charge of bringing up children, cooking etc and men should be in the public sphere- work, politics etc. Henry Labouchere said “I shall break down all attempts to break down the barrier which nature has placed between men and women” because these roles were thought to have been ordained by God and couldn’t be changed. Some people also

Wilson points out that women are steadily gaining traction in legislature, but at a severely slow pace when compared to other Western democracies. Over 30% of all Democratic state legislator are women. Conversely, fewer than one in six Republican state legislators are women. The chances of a woman winning or losing a political election is no greater than a man’s chances.

The idea of women gaining the right to vote was one such of a tale. Men, and women never thought they would see the day where women were considered equal suffragists. Until August 18, 1920 when the nineteenth amendment was ratified into the United States Constitution, granting women the right to vote. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Susan B. Anthony died before they could see the day where women would become equal. Carrie Chapman Catt worked hand in hand with Susan B. Anthony, and served as the president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA). Alice Paul served as a role model for women. She worked for women’s suffrage while in jail, and proved to her opponents, that the day where women could vote would come. Though these women did not always work together, working towards the same cause allowed them to accomplish their true dream: women’s suffrage.

Finally, after many years of protests, conventions, and facing much adversity, women got to vote for the very first time today on November 1,1872. Although our votes did not count, we got to exercise our rights as citizens of the United States of America. We showed everyone, who is against us that women do matter, and that we do deserve the right to vote like any other man. I can proudly say I was a part of the small group of women who got to vote today for the very first time. We have made monumental progress, and this is a major victory for women everywhere.

Despite this perception there are very few women in American politics today. Women make up only 18.3% of Congress,

Women are underrepresented in political offices at the national and local levels. Currently, only 17 women serve in the United States Senate out of 100 seats and only 16 percent of the United States House of Representatives are female. Why is this a problem? Legislatures, the House of

New Zealand was the first country to give women the right to vote in 1893, however, since then we have dropped to 27th when it comes to gender representation in government, out of 188 countries. One of the many reasons as to why women are under represented in parliament can be linked to the issue of the political obstacles that face women. This is when they want to be in parliament, women whom are in parliament, and the many women who this is not an option for due to lack of opportunity. Women have to face this “masculine model” of politics and government. Men are dominant in parliament, meaning that political life revolves around male norms and values (Shvedova). This can be extended, politics is very much about competition and confrontation. Rather than politics being