Women Suffrage and Rights
By Leah Rosenberg
Way Back Then.........
In the late 19th century, the world was transformed into a booming, and an idealistic state in engineering. The steam engine came to be;....the telephone.......phonograph.........and even the sewing machine! New innovations and inventions were constructed by only the best of the best in the industry! The best of the best, along with the rest of the educated people in the workforce. The workforce and the educated were all in fact male. the women....got a salary of 25 cents an hour if they worked in the factories. They mostly stayed at home, tending to their families, doing house chores, or, if lucky enough, made it as a nurse.
The Cold War
As women grew and had kids, they worked hard in terms of domestic work. They were fully devoted to home life, and building a strong, involved foundations for their young. During the mid to late 1950s; something called the Cold War had taken place. Soldiers were in high demand, and young men began getting drafted left and right, some; leaving their families. That also lead to a high demand in the workforce. Women soon got pulled into employment. They started working in factories, agricultural, nutrition services, and other temporary jobs. Some men that protested this, argued that women were happier in the home. Well....not according to a woman by the name of Betty Frieden.
Who Was Betty Freiden?
Betty Frieden was a woman activist for... Well, women. In contrast to the commonly thought belief that the woman's place was IN the home, and that was where she was the happiest, baby boomer Betty had a different view. She knew that women had dreams, aspirations, and great work ethic. She made sure to be VERY vocal about it.
Other Women Activists
Susan B. Anthony
Susan B. Anthony was an author, and activist in the early 1800s. Born to a family of Quakers, (who were very passionate about social equality), she started protesting African slavery at the mere age of 17. Then, in 1863, she founded a communal society with a friend called the Women's Loyal National League. The members helped her collect over 6000,000 signature's on a slavery abolishment petition. In 1869, she founded the National Women's Suffrage as her intention to furthermore promote equality (gender, specifically) in America.
Sojourner Truth
Sojourner Truth was born to a slave upbringing, in Ulster County, New York. In her later years, she saw a fleeting opportunity to escape. She and her infant daughter did. She wasn't going to leave, forgetting about her experience as a slave, so, she decided to spread awareness about it. Sojourner soon published poetry, speeches, and thoughts left and right. Her teachings and words were spoke with an undying passion, and most would agree that passion is what made her who she was. As a black woman, she took a lot of abuse from conformed beliefs, but fought opposition with the story of her "journey" and her personal "truth".