A Never Ending Battle: Equality of the Sexes

It is common in todays world to discuss the lack of equality between the sexes and brainstorm ideas to help create equality once and for all. Something that is not discussed as often is where the fight began. Of course, this has been an issue for as long we have had society, but the first major change in America happened in the middle of the 19th centuries. We learned about how change was brought about, and what specifically the women were fighting to change. The Rights of Women: Laws and Practices explains the oppression and inequality that women faced in this time period. We also looked at multiple newspaper articles reacting to the Seneca Falls convention for women's equality, which showed the support the campaign had as well some peoples misogynistic views.


In the middle of the 19th century, a woman's place was in the kitchen. Cooking, cleaning, and taking care of her children was the extent of what she was thought to be capable of. In todays world these may seem like things from the distant past, but it is important to learn about and understand them in order to continue the fight for equality. The first women's rights convention that was held in the united states took place in Seneca Falls, New York in 1848. The convention created quite a buzz around the country and differing views on the event came to light. Some newspapers came out with articles defending the convention, in favor of women receiving more rights. An example of this is the National Reformer article on August 31st, 1848: "But to be serious- we would like to be informed why- we would ask for one valid reason why women should be deprived of her equal rights as an intelligent being. We have never seen one reason attempted." Other articles have vastly different views, strongly against the movement and women receiving equal rights. Their argument (however flawed) is "If our ladies insist on voting and legislating, where, gentlemen, will be our dinners and our elbows? Where our domestic firesides and holes in our stockings?" ; says an article published in the Oneida Whig on August 1st, 1848.

In 2015, we are miles away from the discrimination that women received in the 19th century, but unfortunately we are also nowhere near complete equality. In the US there is still a wage gap between men and women doing the same work, and women are looked down upon for doing the same things as men. In class we watched a Pantene commercial that brought to light some of the unfair labels women must live with everyday. For example, the commercial shows a man and a woman, both presumably CEOs of a large company, and while the man is viewed as the boss, strong, smart, and powerful, the woman is viewed as bossy, rude, and controlling. This is just the tip of the iceberg for the injustices women must face. Luckily, women have begun to stand up for themselves and change is happening. Feminism; the equality of the sexes, is becoming a common belief and everyday women are a step closer for equality to become a reality.


Pantene Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K2kfgW7708&feature=youtu.be



Citations:
1. The Rights of Women: Laws and Practices. Seneca Falls. 1848.
2.  Women Out Of Their Latitude. National Reformer. American Treasures of the Library of Congress. August 31, 1848.
3. Oneida Whig. American Treasures of the Library of Congress. August 1, 1848.