Feminism
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As human beings, we have a voice. It is in our own power of choice to use our voice when we strongly want to be heard. Unfortunately, there was a point in time, when gender interfered with universal rights. Although, women were able to use their voice, they were distinctly not being heard. In the nineteenth and twentieth century, women took the initiative to use their power of opinion in order to accomplish their goals of obtaining equal rights. This generated the revolution centered on new waves of feminism.
The first-wave of feminism began in the middle of the nineteenth century, a time of transformation. This period constituted the beginning of womens suffrage. Women were mainly focused on gaining equal rights and abolish slavery in the south. This wave continued up until the nineteen-twenties, when women took on another fight to earn the right to vote. The early nineteen-sixties was the evolution of the second-wave of feminism. During this time, women wanted to further accomplish a higher state of equal rights, which was influenced by the United States social changes. Women strongly felt that they deserved a greater identity outside of the household wife title.
The first-wave of feminism began with the Seneca Falls convention in eighteen-forty-eight. It was the first meeting place for women and men to discuss many of the unjust restrictions enforced on women by the United States. The meeting also discussed the abolition of slavery that was occurring in the south. Attendees and two of the most well-known activists, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony were strongly involved in this movement, especially the campaign for eliminating the existence of slavery. Anthony once said in her Constitutional Argument speech,
“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be
denied or abridged by the United States, or by any state, on account of
race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”
The duties of these women and the Seneca Falls meeting strongly influenced American women to continue fighting for their rights, more specifically, the fight for the right to vote (the nineteenth amendment). Alice Paul and Lucy Burns, two famous suffragists, stoutly fought for womens right to vote by gaining support of many women and conducting strike marches, the most famous taking place right in front of the White House. After much strength and determination, these women, along with their followers accomplished their goal and earned the promising right to vote. This was the greatest victory that American women achieved in the first-wave. It was enough to give power to future waves where more voices could be heard.
The second-wave of feminism was the era for women to voice their opinions with no fear or shame. This was the beginning of a new female identity. This movement encouraged women to recognize that they could achieve more in life. They deserved a greater sense of acknowledgement outside of the household and not just be classified specifically as a housewife or a mother. The second-wave opened a new door for the American woman, primarily on observing various occupations and achievements. Betty Friedans book, The Feminine Mystique, intellectually expresses her examination of what she refers to as “the problem with no name.” She argued that the