Unfortunately I do not have the time to touch upon the historical rights of women in all nations, but since democracy developed in Ancient Greece and Rome, I felt those were the most important to talk about. Though out history there have been powerful women rulers in many nations. Most famous of these were probably Queen Nefertiti and Cleopatra of Egypt, Queen Isabelle I of Spain, Mary Queen of Scots, Queen Elizabeth and Victoria of England, Catherine the Great of Russia and possibly the most relevant to many Americans, Queen Liliuokalani of Hawaii. More recently, we have seen Golda Meir in Israel, Indira Gandhi in India, Margaret Thatcher in England and Benazir Bhutto in Palestine.
Although these women certainly made big differences in their respective political positions, as well as socially, the majority achieved power through h monarchies. The last four that I mentioned were all elected, yet most had family ties to the office before coming to power.
For this project I am focusing more on the part that women play in politics here in the United States. This does not necessarily mean as leaders, since obviously there has never been a woman president. I will start with the colonial history of women and move to woman’s suffrage. I intend to touch upon the three waves of feminism, and from there focus on women in politics today.
In colonial America, women were considered the “weaker vessels” and not as physically or emotionally strong as the men (Sage). Society believed them to be muscularly weaker, as well as more squeamish (WIC). Since times were very difficult for all in the harsh New World, women became seen as needed to be protected by the stronger men. While men were expected to risk even their lives for their wives, women were expected to defer to the judgment of men at all times (Sage). Women did not have the right to say in any legal matters pertaining to them as they did not have suffrage or the right to hold public office (Sage). We should not forget that the Constitution clearly states that “all men are created equal” with no mention of the female gender.
As was most common in most cultures, women usually held the jobs in the household, raining the family. Since the family unit was so important, though, it gave them the opportunity to hold some power and gained respect. When men voted, it was considered on behalf of the entire household, therefore allowing their wives some influences (Sage).
Also, since disease and injury were frequent occurrences, the women often times were able to step up and take over some of the more laborious roles of the males, if they became incapacitated (Sage). Since this was often the case, that the woman had to take up a male’s labor role, they were granted more rights in the colonies than most other places in the word. Women were allowed to participate in some public affairs, conduct business and even appear in court (Sage). The Equity Law allowed women to sue their husbands for property and had a very liberalizing effect on women when it came about in the early 1800’s (WIC). Girls were also allowed to tend Dame school, and sometimes further education if there was room (WIC). It was important for women to be able to read the Bible in Puritan America (Sage).
Works Cited
Sage, Henry J. “Women in Colonial America.” Academic America, 2007. Web. 26 Mar. 2012. <http://www.academicamerican.com/colonial/topics/women.htm>.
“Women’s History in America.” Women’s International Center. Compton’s NewMedia, Inc., 1995. Web. 26 Mar. 2012. <http://www.wic.org/misc/history.htm>.