Women's Role In The Civil Rights Movement

After four years of seemingly endless battle between a divided nation, more than 600,000 people were killed. These lives, however, were not given in vain. Had it not been for the American Civil War, abolition may not have been carried out. The nation might have remained divided. Women might have remained confined to their roles as the "homemakers." Although the Civil War was fought in hopes of preserving the nation and ridding it of slavery, another war raged on within the depths of this war--the women's war. Serving as nurses both in the hospital and on the battlefields, women came to know a whole

On September 3rd 1939 World War II started in Europe. During World War II, more than 16 million American men served in the military. While this large portion of the population was overseas fighting for the United States, women had to do many of the jobs in America normally held by men. Women were considered vital assets to the war effort, and the American government made sure to use their skills and labor in many different areas to win the war. Women contributed to the successful war effort by working society, documenting the war effort, and supporting the soldiers.

for our army to use. They did this sort of work while the husbands, brothers and other

Before the war, women had very little rights. A married woman could not control property that was hers before marriage, keep control of her wages, acquire property while married, she could not transfer or sell property, she couldn’t even bring a lawsuit. A husband could do anything he wished to with a woman’s material. He could sell them, break them, and his wife couldn 't sell or give away the exact same things. It was immensely unfair to women. But, they would not stay quiet for long. The sexism had to stop!

The idea of peacekeeping and the maintaining of order began centuries ago. However, long ago women were not involved in this. As women did enter within 20th century their role was limited. As time passes, change takes place.

There was a time when social classes were most easily identified through material goods and possessions. Whether wealth was gained through inheritance or hard work, it was the luxury items that made the most visible and tangible statement regarding a person’s social status. Men could rely on a large house or expensive car to proclaim the success they had earned. It was much more common to see women adorned in jewels, designer clothes, and furs as symbols of her upper class status. The extravagance of a woman’s appearance was a reflection of the success of her husband, so it was natural to indulge her desire for expensive material possessions.

When WW2 came around the US needed soldiers and they called on African Americans and over 2.5 million African American registered for the draft. The US didn’t expect slaves to be into fighting. A woman wasn’t allowed to fight in the army back then but they didn’t give up. Black women also came to the defense of the nation by enlisting in the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC). Black women in WAAC were labeled “ten percenters” because they made up 10 percent of the women recruited. In the economic arena, the war ended the Great Depression. Military spending that began in 1940 to bolster the defense effort gave the nation’s economy

The war caused many American women to take factory jobs as result of the men enlisting in the war effort. They took these jobs because once the husband left there was no source of income coming to the family. So the women had to go to work to receive income to feed their families. Also, they started to work at the factories so they could make guns, bombs, food, and clothes to send to the troops in Europe who were fighting in the war.

During the 1960s, living off one income had become increasingly more difficult to continue living a comfortable lifestyle with the rise in economic demands. Therefore, forcing many American women to begin seeking jobs in the workforce. However, many qualified women were quickly looked over by men, some with fewer years of experience and education. Potential employers felt that women would not be able to face the stress that went along with work. So 1964, the United States enacted Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e et seq. (Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964) This act is very well-known, prohibiting harassment in the workplace and discrimination. A few years later, on October 31, 1978, President Jimmy

Women once again were the backbone of America during WWII just like in WWI. They worked high jobs reserved for men and some women helped create machines that would help in the war (ships, tanks, planes, etc.). Agricultural took a backburner because many left their jobs to either fight in the war or work in jobs that would provide for the war. Although the jobs for women didn’t last long and they didn’t get paid as much it set in motion more encouragement for Women’s Suffrage. African Americans also moved from farming to more industrialized jobs because they believed that winning the war might encourage more equality in America itself. African-Americans could earn more money and FDR passed the FEPC (Fair Employment Practices Commission) but it was not practiced much in the armed forces. In the armed forces African-Americans were given small jobs and not properly trained for higher jobs if they got one. The FEPC called for the armed forces to give out

Before the war, during the war, and after the war women had very few rights. A married woman could not control property that was hers before marriage, keep control of her wages, acquire property while married, she could not transfer or sell the property, she couldn’t even bring a lawsuit. A husband could give away the exact same things. This was exceptionally unfair to women, nevertheless they remained indefatigable. The women ceased to surrender, and they would not stay quiet for long. The sexism had to stop, and they were determined.

Looking back upon civil rights, women 's campaign for suffrage and equal standing in society shines as one of the most important movements in US history. The literature of this time reflects the ideals from the movement. The 1890s marked the beginning of the Progressive Era; a period dictated by the emergence of women from all levels of society entering the public sphere and becoming self advocates. In 1892, Charlotte Perkins Gilman authored The Yellow Wallpaper, a piece that symbolically represented the era. By the 1940s women had gained the right to vote and had begun to work, much to the chagrin of men. In 1947 Tennessee Williams produced his classic play A Streetcar Named Desire. While similar in their quest to bring women’s struggles

Women have always been regarded as key parental figure in raising and developing children in the society. During the period of 1950 to 1970, many parts of the world were marred with civil rights movement. The movements were characterized with protests and civil resistance complaining about discrimination economic and political self sufficiency. Women took up the initiative to participate in these movements. This situation later led to serious confrontation between government authorities and activists. Thousands of people took part in the civil right movement of that period especially in the United States. The key leaders of the campaign, include; Martin Luther King,

It is contextually vital to distinguish between the pre and post war era in relation to the 1960s. The post-war era was that of a hearty economy, with the middle and working class generally advancing and a low level of social upheavals. The sixties were a period of heightened social struggles, women struggles, the Cold War, Vietnam, and a rising tide of conservatism despite the liberal counter culture and immense racism. People organizing and actively working for change both in the social order and in government, this included the student movement the women's movement movements for gay rights and a push by the courts to expand rights in general Progression of civil rights had key moments in what took place at Greensboro North Carolina University.

Throughout the years, minority groups have fought for rights and equal treatment. Some of those have impacted history. Women’s rights as well as the Civil rights movements have impacted history and society as a whole. Colored people are no longer suffering of racism. And women have gotten more rights, just like men. Even after all those years have passed, 1969-2000, new groups arise and are fighting for their own rights and equality. It shows how society keeps changing and the impact it had from the past. Lately, is the gays and lesbians one of the most present and fighting groups. Currently impacting and changing society, having some groups with it and others against them. The LBGT social movement has been going on for