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Introduction
Women in America have grown through different phases and periods of American history. Native American Women are considered the first group of women to settle in America. They had a less civilized society and women were considered to be the property of the man she has been married to, they were subjected to home duties and submitting to their husbands. During the American Colonial Era, women had gone through a not convincing change from the position held during the Native American period, they were still subjected to oppression and commitment to their husbands. The American Colonial Period is the time when women started championing their rights. Through this period, a revolutionary transition can be observed as it paved the way for to women getting acknowledged and given their rights.
Native American Women
The Native American Women inhibited America in its early years, they had roles that they played in society and at their homes. From the start and at an early age, women were expected to be submissive and dominated by their men, though the community had its customs that were strictly followed. In the communities, women were always considered to be the property of the community. Women took care of their households as they made meals for the family and kept their houses in good shape. They handled the domestic chores. Women were given the duties of teaching and bringing their children in an upright way and learning their customs.
Women during the American Colonial Era
During the American Colonial Era, women were legally and socially subservient to men and trapped within a patriarchal structure. Women were subjected to domestic duties as their primary purpose, they were under their men and were controlled by any movement that they made. During the Colonial Era, women were treated with much inferior respect as compared to men. Women were denied rights and freedoms that were celebrated by men, they were not allowed to vote, hold any public office, or express themselves freely to the public or the government. Women suffered masculine oppression and were considered to be inferior objects to men. It is striking that women, once married, become civilly dead. They have no right to own property or make decisions for themselves. Mrs. Ripley has not seen her parents since her marriage. Her husband seems to dislike his wife s decision about her trip and the rest that she would like to take. To deprive her of the ability to exercise her opinion, he evokes the problem of money which she should use to support herself while traveling he wonders how she is going to raise the money which would enable her to pay for her trip. Sarah Moore gives an example in her book, Letters on the Equality of the sexes, She speaks about women being suppressed by the male gender. During this period, women have deprived of their rights as they went through injustices and were marginalized. Women were not allowed to participate in politics as they were deprived the voting rights and were restricted from holding any public office. They had no position to work to earn a living, and if it happened the husband always controlled her woman s earnings as they were the head of the family. The colonists brought to America the same attitude and spirit towards the status and role of women. In fact, women are completely wretched they were regarded as mentally, physically, and emotionally defective. The colonialist had also been treating their woman with low respect, this grew in America as it was found to have already rooted itself. The notion that women were weak spread through America and women from then we considered to be completely wretched, weak, and in no position to add more value to the society. Women during the colonial period never received equal education as their male counterparts, they were taught etiquette and how to handle the house chores while men were being taught how they could run businesses and more complex and educating. Judith Sargent Murray in her poetry, on the equality of the sexes, has shown us how women were denied the rights that men were receiving, they were treated to be inferior to men. That minds are not alike, full well I know, This truth each day s experience will show To heights surprising some great spirits soar, With inborn strength mysterious depths explore Their eager gaze surveys this path of light, Confest it stood to Newton s piercing sight.
Women After American Revolution.
After the American Revolution, the status and view of women in society changed. Women understood the roles that they played in society and acknowledged their worth. This was shown during the time of World War when women had to stand up to defend themselves, take care of their families, and aid the wounded from the wars. This became an opening for women in society. Will it be said that the judgment of a male of two years old is more sage than that of a female of the same age I believe the reverse is generally observed to be true. But from that period what partiality how is the one exalted, and the other depressed, by the contrary modes of education which are adopted the one is taught to aspire, and the other is early confined and limited. As their years increase, the sister must be wholly domesticated, while the brother is led by the hand through all the flowery paths of science Judith spoke about the difference in the education that women were receiving contrary to what men were being taught, she gives an example of her and his brother and how he learns science while she is barred from accessing similar knowledge. Women began to be taught in different ways and became to be treated as intellectuals and acknowledged as literate individuals. Women started to engage directly and indirectly in politics. Previously, women were not allowed to engage in any political activities. Women started to champion for their rights to fight the oppression of men. They championed women’s rights by taking on public roles and the social reforms movement. Women started to advocate for their rights and were in for the feminist movement. They deserved the same rights as men, including the right to vote and the right to take public office. Even though American women participated in the transition of America in the American Revolution, women were still expected to marry and have kids rather than pursue a career. As women needed to enjoy the same rights as men, they started to champion their rights and freedom. The period after American Revolution gave women opportunities to explore their horizons, it gave women the rights that they were being deprived of as they could freely express themselves. The effects of the American Revolution were not instantly felt, they paved the way for more reforms that took place in the society and also in the political perspective. Even when the standards of women began to rise, the treatment at home did not change as women were still responsible for handling the house chores and taking care of the children in the family
Conclusion
Even though the American Revolution brought a change in how society views women, the impacts we never instantly felt. The race towards fighting for equality among women and men is still on. The world has accepted and is accepting the roles that women play in society, it is unfortunate that women are still degraded across America and the whole world. Some of the ethnic customs which are being followed to date have carried the narrative of women being inferior to women. It is high time for us to change our perspective against and should give them equal opportunities and respect that men are given.
- Grimk, Sarah Moore.Letters on the Equality of the Sexes, and the Condition of Woman Addressed to Mary S. Parker. I. Knapp, 1838.
- Kramnick, Isaac, ed.The portable Enlightenment reader. Penguin, 1995.
- Galewski, Elizabeth. The Strange Case for Women’s Capacity to Reason Judith Sargent Murrays Use of Irony in On the Equality of the Sexes (1790).
- Quarterly Journal of Speech93.1 (2007) 84-108.
- Skemp, Sheila L.First Lady of Letters Judith Sargent Murray and the Struggle for Female Independence. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2011
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