Women and Power Through the Years

By Liane

From the very beginning of US History until present day, women have been fighting for equal rights as well as contributing greatly to our country. In the 1770s, before the American Revolution, women helped challenge British power. The average woman would make a stand by boycotting British goods, such as tea and clothes made in Britain. There were even women who stood out publicly. Such was Mary Goddard, who first printed copies of the Declaration of Independence including signatures.

In time, women began to grow increasingly incensed at the absence of women's suffrage. That is to say, women did not have the right to vote. The first women's suffrage movement was in 1848 at the Seneca Falls Convention in New York. It was brought about by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott. In this convention, Stanton presented her Declaration of Sentiments, featuring the call for greater women rights, especially suffrage for women.


Scene from Marry Poppins in which Mrs. Banks
sing of "Votes for Women", in reference to the
movement for women's suffrage


1913 Suffrage March, New York City

In 1920, more 50 years after the start of the women's suffrage movement, women finally gained the right to vote. The 19th Amendment was added to the Constitution, giving women the right that was so sought-after. However, this by no means granted women equality. From 1972 to 1982, women gradually began to work, instead of staying at home cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the children. But women were not paid equal salaries as men. The need for another amendment arose, and as such the Equal Rights Amendment was proposed. This would have given women the same social and economic rights as men, had it passed. Unfortunately, although millions defended it, the ERA was feared to bring about unwanted change. Because of this, the Equal Rights Amendment failed to be ratified for the Constitution.

Nevertheless, women have gained more and more equality every year. Taking a look at our society now, we see that women and men truly are more or less equal. Both men and women serve in Congress and the Senate, and women hold important positions socially and politically. Throughout the years, women have fought for, and eventually gained political power.