Children were an economic responsibility for women - providing food, housing and clothing until the child was independent and could go out to work to provide for the family themselves. Most working class women worked, as this was an obligation, but this work contrasted hugely to that of their male counterparts, occupying roles of lower skill and less pay. Edward Cadbury in 1909 said that marriage was ‘an escape from work’ Trint, S. History Learning Site 2010-2011. Women’s Rights. www.historylearningsite.co.uk [accessed 07122011].
Throughout early history, girls received very few educational opportunities, in society learning was secondary. The idea of a female attending school, especially higher education was backlashes with hostile attitudes (Women in America). Men are viewed themselves as not only superior, but also smarter. From the 17th-19th centuries, women's brains were thought to be smaller than those of men, which is why people thought that women could not learn courses such as science of math. Emma Willard opened a seminary for girls, in Troy, New York, in 1821.
Females were controlled by the males in their lives; first, by their fathers, brothers and male relatives and finally by their husbands. Women were expected to find a husband, marry and reproduce and serve her family until they died. Education for women at the turn of the century was a luxury not afforded to many, and if one chose to be single and seek education over domesticity, she was often pitied or ridiculed by both her peers and community. Emily Dickinson is one example of a woman who was able to choose a significantly different path for herself. Because Dickinson was born into a wealthy and affluent family she received the opportunity to be formally educated.
There was a lot of sexist employers as most of them thought a ‘women’s place’ was in the home. Women faced a lot of discrimination against men if they were seen displaced in the field of work. Most women would be employed in Domestic Service which would include being maids and cleaners for higher class citizens who could afford servants. They would polish silver, wash and do normal household chores. Most women were brought up to support her husband and look after her home and children; her time was always contributed to her home.
Women’s rights in 19th century and 21st century There is no secret that throughout the world’s history women have been considered as the weaker sex; mostly by having less opportunities and rights than men. However since the nineteen-century women have fought for a more equal society and a more equal role by accomplishing a significant amount of goals that increased women’s opportunities. The life of an American woman in the nineteen-century was full of gender inequalities. Before, women were not even allowed to vote; the access to education was very limited; salaries for women were extremely unfair, and men had total control over women lives. Women were relegated to house and family duties such as cleaning, cooking and taking care of the kids.
Men believe that the things they do and accomplish, women will not be able to achieve or do better than what they have done. Women in the renaissance period have been an exemplar of accomplishing things men thought they could not accomplish. Women impacted the renaissance period by patronizing and promoting arts, progressing politically, and taking over jobs that were originally worked by men. Women in the renaissance period had many daily roles. Most of the time, they stayed home because of customs and prejudice.
Kristyn Champion Ginger Glass English 102-601 18 January 2008 Men and Women What is Society’s View of a Woman’s Role? A woman’s role in society has greatly changed over the past few years. The role played by a woman in the olden days is remarkably inconsistent with the role played by a woman in today’s society. Nevertheless, a woman’s role in society can be very strenuous because of the various tasks she has to accomplish in order to fulfill her role. Until recently, a woman was expected by society to mainly be a wife, a mother, and a homemaker.
Change for these women showed them a new world of decent wages and rewarding satisfaction of providing for themselves. Tasting the life of independence and workforce life, these women had to help themselves to travel to work while taking care of the children and balancing work with their home duties. As their lifestyle began to change and they must now balance home life and work life as the gender roles began to change in America. As a step in the door towards equality between the gender roles, these new jobs have now been opened up to women who need to provide for their families in World War I. Until World War 1 ends and the husbands and males come home from duty, they women are forced back into home life to resume their jobs as homemakers.
Daycare and nanny’s fulfill the role of caretaker. Today’s women are less than submissive in their role as wife. They have a voice and are not so dutiful. Another reason for the difference in women today, is the divorce rate. Women today are different than women in the nineteen-fifties, in motherhood, homemaking, marriage and fashion.
This segregation between men and women is still a major problem in United States because working moms do not receive extra institutions, women are treated lower when they have received same amount of education as men, and women received less income than men. Long after the 19th Amendment to the Constitution gave women the right to vote in 1920, women were prevented from fulfilling professional ambitions by a set of assumptions about their "proper" role in society, which was largely defined as being mothers and taking care of the household. (Lee, Wagner) There still aren’t many changes on what people think the role of a woman is. Gender segregation in modern society is a problem because in this day in age, both men and women need to work to support their family. Working mothers are now a common part of society that reflects both economic necessity and new-found freedom for women to go beyond their traditional role in society.