Feminism has been a controversial topic since as early as the 19th century. Feminism has had a profound effect on women’s roles in society as well as their everyday life. There are countless feminists whose achievements are still recognized and remembered today. Jane Addams is a historical feminist who changed the lives for the women of her time, and is still talked about to this day. While feminism was huge in the earlier years of America, there are contemporary feminists who fight for the rights and equality of women that are still not met. In recent years, Gloria Steinem has spoken up for the equality of women and pushed for social reform. Jane Addams and Gloria Steinem are more than feminists, they are activists with many accomplishments that changed the lives for every woman of their time. Jane Addams is a well-known historical feminist, activist, social worker, and leader in women’s suffrage whose legacy still lives on today. Although she was considered radical for her time, she thought of ways to push for social and political reforms in socially acceptable ways. Her achievements created an abundance of opportunities for women that would change their roles in society.
September 6, 1860 Addams was born in Cedarville, Illinois to a family with a great amount of money. Since her teens, Addams had big dreams to do something useful in the world. Addams was full of ambition that stemmed from her childhood experiences. Her mother passed away when Addams was only two years
The women’s rights movement has been influenced by the words and writings of many. Two influential people in the movement include Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Abigail Adams. These women paved the way for equality across the United States of America. Without these women speaking out and advocating in their different ways, equality in the country would be much farther
Laura Jane Addams was born in Cedarville, Illinois on September 6, 1860. Addams lost her mother to childbirth at the age of two, and her father, John Addams, was a prominent
Jane Addams was a strong champion of several other causes. Until 1920, American women could not vote. Addams joined in the movement for women's suffrage (women's right to vote). She was a vice president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association. Addams was also a founding member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
In the past women's right was nonexistent, and they did not have any educational or voting rights. Most of their education was toward music, dance, embroidery, and how to be a good wife. Woman did not have a voice in society, and their ideas was disregard and not valued. During the year 1700-1900, some feminist movement for women's rights arouse. In Europe, Mary Wollstonecraft advocated for women's right and education. As a liberal thinker, Wollstonecraft desired a society with equal rights for men and women. In the U.S., Jane Addams developed the philosophy of socialized education, and was the pioneer is social work and women's right.
Another women’s rights activist would be Elizabeth Cady Stanton. A quote about what Elizabeth did as a women’s rights activist would be “While Elizabeth Cady Stanton is best known for her long contribution to the woman suffrage struggle, she was also active and effective in winning property rights for married women, equal guardianship of children, and liberalized divorce laws” (qtd. in Elizabeth Cady Stanton”). Elizabeth was born November 12, 1815 in Jamestown, New York (“Elizabeth Cady Stanton Biography”). Many women rights activists are
Susan B. Anthony was born on February 15th, 1820. She was raised in a Quaker household in Adams, Massachusetts. Anthony taught for fifteen years before becoming interested in the temperance
Gloria Steinem was one of the most important leaders of the second wave of the women’s rights movement. As both an indirect and direct leader, she embodied her story by giving speeches and writing books and articles to help empower women across the United States and beyond. As she grew up in American society where sexism was present, she told an innovative story with visionary elements to prove to women that they were more than what society said they were. Her strong and feisty personality added to her success and I will argue that these factors along with her appearance helped her to be a major player and the face of the women’s rights movement.
In 1915 Jane Addams wrote the document Why Women Should Vote. In this document Addams spoke on why she felt women should have a voice and be able to vote for who they believed was fit for office. Jane Addams was a very influential woman, she was able to become an advocate for women. She opened hull houses which allowed women and children immigrants a place to stay and even take classes to become educated. Jane Addams wanted what was best for women and she wanted them to be able to become more independent. Addams also wanted women to be allowed to have their opinions heard because the Presidential decisions affected women’s responsibilities equally if not more than that of a man.
Despite the years of oppression, women have overcome sexism and have made a difference. Since the late 18th century, around The French Revolution, women have been fighting for equality, freedom, and rights. These women became known as feminist. Feminists have been fighting for years, and to this day, for equal rights, and they have won many battles. Here are some examples in recent history of how women succeeded: from 1916-1920, women started Women’s suffrage. The 19th Amendment passed allowing women the rights
(Hannam 296) During the Anti-Slavery Movement, she had valuable experience in public speaking and running poilitical organizations through her work in the abolishionist movement. (298 ) in the process women were generally discouraged from taking active part in public life and expected to join women only groups in support of male organizations (ibid) While Elizabeth Cady Stanton is best known for her long contribution to the woman suffrage struggle, without her struggles these issues wouldnt have been effective in winning property rights for married women, equal guardianship of children, and liberalized divorce laws. These reforms made it possible for women to leave marriages that were abusive of the wife, the children, and the economic health of the family.
What makes a great leader? Two great leaders from this century were Eleanor Roosevelt and Martin Luther King Jr. Despite their difference in gender and race and didn 't have political experiences. Martin Luther King Jr. was an African-American, Baptist minister, who was born on January 15, 1968. He lead the civil rights movement. Eleanor Roosevelt, who was born on October 11, 1884, was an influential a First Lady. She was a great social reformer and she was a beyond educated well and came from her wealthy family as well. Both had successful leadership qualities: empathy, conceptualization, and ability to build community.
Jane Addams was born on September 6, 1860, the eighth child of a prominent family in the small town of Cedarville, Illinois. Of the nine
The feminism movement throughout the 1900’s showed much progression to equality in western society. It was this pivotal century that set the ball rolling for important women’s rights, including women’s suffrage in 1920, John F. Kennedy passing the Equal Pay Act in 1963, and even sparked revolutionary women such as Amelia Earhart, one of the first female pilots. But like all new changes there was room for improvement. This is where great speakers such as journalist Gloria Steinem stepped in. On May 6, 1970, Steinem spoke before Congress on the equal rights amendment as a supporter for female equality. She goes on to describe that still into the 1970’s that women were being socially discriminated
These influential women are most widely known suffragist of their generation and has become icons of the women suffrage movement. These independent, bold, and intelligent female pioneers paved the way for so many women different races, and nationalities to come together as one for a common cause. These women are known today as idols, icons, and activists. Those women that took a stand when no one else would be: Susan B. Anthony, Alice Paul, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Lucy Stone. These women believed that all American women, just like men, deserve the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
The feminist movement that is more recognized was started by Betty Friedan. She was the author of The Feminine Mystique, a book that called for many women to enrich themselves from the unnamed problem that left