The push for women’s rights to vote had started way back in the 19 th century but only gained momentum after 1900 when there emerged evidence that the role of the woman was gradually changing in the society. The women in the society gained a new level of independence and did not depend on men to provide for everything. They had since started to wear clothes that fitted in loosely and participated in sports that were traditionally men’s.
They also started to support social reforms and took active roles in charity works and this endeared them to the society at large. This new crop of women was referred to as the middle class, and the women involved had the ability to fight for equal rights albeit at a lower level. The fact that they performed in all these areas made them admired in the society. The congress and the society at large knew very well that these women were becoming more aware of the oppression they were going through. Feminists also emerged who went on to influence other women who were not as exposed to fight for their rights to vote. The fact that it was now evident that women were not just subordinate made the society and the congress support their push to vote in elections.
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The right to vote did not give women full equality. This is due to the fact that after the 19 th Amendment was ratified in 1920, it was clear that women could not agree on common candidates to vote for and therefore, their possibility of voting as a block remained very low. Women did not vote en masse the very first time they were allowed to do so (CRF, 2017). This made it hard for them to be well represented in congress and therefore, not many laws pertaining to equal rights were passed. This made the women leaders who had fervently fought for the 19 th Amendment to be passed disappointed due to the fact that all their efforts did not yield the desired equality (CRF, 2017). Women were still considered subordinates in most areas such as the church, in home, at the workplace and in matters pertaining the law. There was also the ruling by federal courts that equal protections of the law guarantee by the 14 th Amendment was not applicable to women.
Although the wages earned by women have gotten closer to that of men over the years, there is still a slight wage gap between the two. In 1963, the Equal pay Act was passed to decrease this gap and this has seen women earning 76 cents per every dollar earned by a man.
Gender equality ensures that men have a balanced life-work balance. In instances where women are given roles and responsibilities equal to those of men, men are able to take time off work and rest. This in turn helps them become more productive at their work place and this has a ripple effect of improving the economy (Fast Company, 2017). In instances whereby gender equality is observed, men are also able to have more time to spend with their families.
Gender equality is also important for men in that they are able to tap from the talents and resources of women. When women are given equal rights as men, they are able to give their best at their workplaces and are therefore resourceful.
Giving women full equality also ensures that families are more harmonious and more economically stable due to the fact that women are able to provide for their families.
References
Constitutional Rights Foundation. (CRF). (2017). Have Women Achieved Equality. www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-action/bria-20-2-b-have-women-achieved-equality
Fast Company. (2017). 4 Ways in which Men benefit from the Gender Conversation. https://www.fastcompany.com/3043290/strong-female-lead/4-important-ways-men-benefit-from-the-gender-conversation-too
