The Beginning of Research

After beginning to research the broad topic of Women's Rights around the world in the early 20th century, I soon realized how truly difficult it would be to narrow what exactly I would study. In addition, I also noticed how difficult it would be to find information on the topic and its impact in society outside of the United States. For example, after typing "Women's Rights in the early 1900s" in the google searchbar, I found only women's rights pages pertaining to America, thus making the search or information much more difficult. However, after gleaning this information, I learned how I would have to research, and began to search for women's history in specific regions of the world. Knowing already some information about women in the middle east, I decided to search for women's history in Africa. Information on women's rights in Africa was hard to find at first, but after looking through a few pages I was able to learn some interesting facts. For example, between 1904 and 1906 in Egypt, government officials went against Muslim calls against the emancipation of women, and they attempted to form their own liberal society. Finding more interest in this region, I also learned that Egypt was possibly the most active country in women's rights movements during the early 20th century. Egyptian women were led by activists such as Huda Sharawi (1879–1947), and their efforts were often displayed in old Egyptian art.
Although researching was frustrating at times, I learned how to better narrow my search in order to find reliable and quality information. Some sites that I believe will help in the future are listed below:

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/11/nfe/ht11nfe.htm

http://www.legacy98.org/

http://www.wic.org/misc/history.htm

An Introduction to Women's Rights in the early 20th Century

My initial reaction to the news that my partner and I were assigned to research Women’s Rights was surprise. Never did I think that my three male partners would choose such a subject. This fact only furthered my interest in the topic; why should a woman be surprised at a man showing interest in her history?

Feeling more personally connected to the cause, I began my research. I began by searching on Google.com, putting in the key words “Women’s Rights, 20^th Century.” Not surprisingly, almost every hit was about women’s rights within the US. Every link that looked promising proved me wrong; I was astounded by the lack of women’s global history. While some articles and essays did provide little mentions of happenings in other countries, I found very few which were dedicated to women’s rights specifically to a country other than the United States. I would like to identify this now, and make sure that my presentation does not reflect similarly; rather, I think it should be a fair representation and analysis of women’s rights in many countries.

Throughout history, women have had a highly debated roll within society. Epochs have come and gone, each ushering in or reverting back to a new set of rules regarding women. As previously cited by my brother from another mother, or my partner from another class, William Schlesinger, Spartans viewed their women as equal to men—participating in sports rather than tending to the children—while medieval times called for the opposite approach. This gives me pause—why the constant shifting? Why revert backwards, rather than progress? While I am aware that women’s rights have certainly progressed over time, I cannot overlook the periods when the meticulous work of various revolutionaries’ was undone.

At the turn of the century, women’s rights were being pushed firmly by a few key leaders. These leaders, following on the coattails of their predecessors, only further pushed the messages and missions of their respective movements. In America, the National Women’s Suffrage Association had been established in 1869 by Elizabeth Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, giving women an established voice in the movement for women’s right to vote. By 1920, the U.S. Senate had ratified the 19^th Amendment, allowing women the right to vote. Women in New Zealand and Australia won the right to vote before 1900. The Woman’s Social and Political Union was formed in Great Britain in 1903. Countries all over the world were beginning to recognize women as more equal, specifically in respect to the right to vote.

While the beginning of the century began with a strong following dedicated to the advancement of women, World War I brought new troubles to deal with, causing the focus on women to be deterred. Women’s rights were put on hold as the world’s most powerful nations sought to build themselves back up again. The struggle for women’s rights was briefly reinstated after the war, but most focus was lost in the years following 1920.

The focus on women’s rights was once again brought up shortly thereafter, furthering women in their quest for equality. Today, women still struggle daily for rights; although most countries have awarded the right to vote to women, some still refuse. Equality is not only made obvious by whether women can vote or not; it is about women furthering their careers, being awarded equal pay to their male counterparts, and generally developing a picture of a woman who is not resigned to her kitchen. Today, women all over the world are pushing further and further for total equality, and those countries that are farther along helping others to follow in their paths.

Throughout this project, I hope to encounter more information about women’s rights that is not just about voting. I hope to uncover more information about women in the workplace; this would include investigation into salary and position, specifically. I would also like to address the issue of birth control, both in America and in other countries. After a little research, it is safe to say I am excited about my topic and the research that is to come.

Background of Women's Rights

In the 1900's, women still held the inferior rights that they had in the previous century; however, they did work in textile factories and coal mines, among other industries, during and after the Industrial Revolution. Women often experienced discrimination and embarrassment, mostly at the coal mines. They were forced to do jobs that "only women could do", and the horrible conditions at the coal mines caused many women to go back home, because of the simple fact that being a housewife was cheaper than working. Because of women's rights, the opposite holds true today. Because of events and people like the Seneca Convention and Millicent Garrett Fawcett, women ave not only received the right to vote, but the right to have the same opportunities that men do, as well. However, discrimination is still poisoning the blood of America, and women are often not given the same opportunities they deserve because of narrow-minded, prejudiced bosses.
When I did researched this topic, I found a number of things that were interesting. I would like to further investigate the entry of women into high profile fields like medicine and law, as well as the continued discrimination of women in the workplace that still goes on today. I'm also curious about the induction of women in one of the most important job fields: world and American government. I want to see how the male leaders of today will react to the slow but steady infusion of women into places like the Supreme Court, the UN, and maybe in a couple years, the White House.

An Overview of Women's Rights

Although women’s rights have historically been subject to great debate, women’s rights have also historically indicated the degree of progress and modernization in global society. Traditionally, women have been subordinate to men and even the Creation story from the New Testament states that the first man, Adam, was created before the first woman, Eve, and that Eve in fact was created from one of Adam’s ribs. This ancient gender inequality also manifests itself today as women in some areas still do not have access to the same financial opportunities, political opportunities, and educational opportunities as men. Although many developed countries are making great strides toward gender equality, such movements are frequently met with harsh opposition as tradition is quite difficult to change.

However, progress in women’s rights has been initiated in areas all over the world and despite great difficulty, change is slowly being made. As early as 500 BC, societies such as the Spartans of Greece offered an early semblance of gender equality when women were allowed to perform “greater” functions in society, rather than caring for children and maintaining a household. Through the Renaissance, the Scientific Revolution, and the Enlightenment – examples throughout history of changes in the status quo – women gained slightly more respect and perception of a women’s role in society had begun to change. Unfortunately today, even in highly developed countries, women are still struggling to be free from the bondage of traditional concepts of their role in society: that of being subordinate to men.

In the 1900’s, women living in more developed societies served a very stereotypical role: They were expected marry, have children, and care for the home while their husband provided the sole income for the family. If they were unmarried, they earned small wages as cooks, waitresses, domestic servants, nurses etc. The role of women in British society for example was even reinforced by female ruler Queen Victoria, “Let women be what God intended, a helpmate for man, but with totally different duties and vocations.” While many women were content with this role, some historical figures, which will be discussed later, organized to push for greater rights. At this time, laws were beginning to be passed giving women greater rights to property, education, divorce, and other rights which we consider today to be extremely basic.

Although great progress was made throughout the 19^th century in terms of women’s rights, certain issues still need to be resolved, and many have recently been created by changing circumstances and times. In September 1995, at the United Nation’s Fourth World Conference on Women, in Beijing, China, delegates identified twelve sectors in need of improvement regarding women’s rights. These included “poverty; access to educations and training; access to health care; violence against women; women and war; economic inequality with men’ political inequality with men; creating of institutions for women’s advancement; lack of respect for women’s right’ stereotyping of women; gender inequalities and the environment; and violation of girl child’s rights.”¹ In order for the world to be better, women’s rights must be improved in all of these areas.

Through this project, I would like to investigate the feminization of poverty (women living in disproportionate poverty), the progress of women in global politics (voting and holding office), and how abuse against women is being addressed and presented on a global stage. I am curious to know how large of an issue women’s rights are on a global scale and how these issues are being addressed by a diverse world community. Also, if “you can’t live with ‘em” I want to know why we “can’t live without ‘em.”

1. United Nations, “Critical Ares of Concern,” Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women (New York: United National Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable development, 1995), ch. 1, annex II, ch. 3, pp. 41-44.

World History Women's Rights

This is the first blog for the World History Women's Rights Blog.