The term feminism can be used when describing the political, economic, or cultural movement that aims at establishing equal rights and legal protection for women 1 . The history of feminism has taken a course of 3 waves. The first feminist wave was recorded towards the end of the 19 th and beginning of the 20 th centuries while the second was witnessed in the 1960s and 1970s. The third feminist wave was experienced between the 1990s to today 2 . The three feminist movements resulted in the development of feminist theory.
The first wave and the development of new womanhood refer to the extended period that saw feminist campaigns occur in the 19 th century in the USA and UK. The development of new womanhood focused on advocating for equality in the right to own property among women and opposed a system where women were owned by their husbands 3 . The first wave is also used to refer to the nineteenth-century western world and revolved around getting women’s rights. Powerful men used to dominate politics and business and did not consider women as having the ability to threaten them. The period was characterized by a lifestyle where women were confined to their households where they did not retain any control 4 . The unmarried women were seen as a father's property while married women did not have the right to ask for a divorce and have the right to be with their children 5 . The first wave and the development of womanhood were connected with the abolitionist movement recorded in the United States. The two movements aimed at making social reforms and liberating the oppressed.
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The first wave has been demarcated ad officially commenced with songs that declared sentiments which saw the development of the first women’s rights convention. The movement also made suffrage a major goal to ensure women had the right to vote in elections leading to the formation of the American Equal Rights Association in 1866 6 . The collapse of this association saw the formation of the National Women Suffrage Association (NWSA) in 1869 and finally the American Women Suffrage Association (AWSA) 7 . The associations developed a broad program of working towards the overall uplift of women in the society on the national stage and through state amendments.
The differences in strategies employed by the two groups saw them split after making very little advancement towards the goal of suffrage though significant improvement in higher education for women was made. The two groups later merged as their methods became alike forming the National American Women Suffrage Association (NAWSA) in 1869 8 . As a result of this merge, Wyoming became the first state where women were granted the right to vote.
The Issue of Suffrage
The historic campaign by women to gain voting rights so those above 30 years granted the right in the 19 th century. However, before, the vote was passed, some powerful men shared their sentiments on the reason women were not to participate in voting. One key reason was that men had the vote and power at that time and they wanted to keep it. some men also showed concerns regarding women wearing hats as they did not understand the way men would feel like walking with that wore large hats. Men were also concerned that women were affected by gusts and wave of sentiment as they were liable for their emotional temperament.
The people that supported the right for women to vote also shared their reasons leading to the success of the feminist movements that saw women being granted voting rights. One major reason feminist movements campaigned for voting rights was that they considered it fair given that those who were to obey the laws were supposed to have a voice in making the laws 9 . Proponents also argued that the moral, educational, and humane legislation women desired was easy to get if women were granted the voting rights. The women’s right to participate in voting was considered a move that would guarantee equality for all. Women also believed the equal suffrage was necessary as it was going to raise the number of educated voters.
The Role Played by Women in 19 th and Early 20 th -Century Progressive Reforms
The last 19 th and early 20 th century saw women join national organizations in large numbers leading to the growth of NAWSA, the National Association of Coloured Women, and National Association Opposed to Women Suffrage 10 . The development of the Women’s Christian Temperance Movement was also popular and succeeded as it led to the introduction of a nationwide prohibition of alcohol. During the progressive era from 1890 to 1920, women became leaders in various political and social movements where they wanted to end political corruption, increase government interventions to protesting citizens, and improve people’s lives 11 .
Women activists practiced maternalist politics where they emphasized traditional traits where they curved out new opportunities for paid labor and stressed special needs for the poor and children 12 . Issues surrounding social welfare became an important part of women activists’ campaigns as they addressed the way social programs affected them and children. Women also worked on various social initiatives like efforts to improve working conditions in American factories.
Furthermore, the National Consumers League and National Child Labour Committee that were major constituting women introduced campaigns across the nation in the call for state governments to come up and implement protective labor laws and provide factory inspectors to ensure the new laws were being followed 13 . Women also called upon the state to participate in granting financial aid to the needy and the widowed mothers.
Effect of War and Imperialism on Women’s Social and Political Liberation
The war years for women was a major springboard to liberation as women moved into work and took jobs that had been left by men. Up until the First World War, women used to work in the home such as the war allowed women to earn more than what they would have got at home. The First World War also saw women allowed to play football as a way of countering the unhealthy working conditions. Imperialism involved an act of one nation extending its influence in another. During imperialism, women’s labor, wage, and unwaged was in some way profitable to imperialism. During this period, women’s oppression was defined through unwaged reproducers and maintainers of the labor force. The principle basis and contradiction of imperialism were between oppressor and oppressed nations meaning the nature of women’s oppression was determined by their position in the two nations.
The Goal of a Feminist after Achieving Suffrage
After ratification of the 19 th amendment that saw women granted the voting rights, some activists knew their work was still on since many women faced discrimination even with the government having recognized their right to vote 14 . Some activists took the role of drafting the equal rights amendment that when ratified would guarantee equal rights to every individual regardless of their gender. The amendment was ratified in the 1970s but did not get enough state support. The women's rights group did not make progress in passing other legislation but other proposals were made by Congress including the equal pay act and the Civil Rights Act in 1963 and 1964.
Conclusion
The essay has provided a deep insight into the development of new womanhood and feminism tracing it back to its beginning in the 19 th century. One major insight from the essay is that the development of feminism formed basis for the development of women’s rights that are being enjoyed today. The first wave of feminism which represents a period when women did not have certain rights as they were dominated by men raised the need for movements that would campaign for their rights. One major issue that women advocated for during the first wave was their right to vote which they were later granted. Women role in campaigning for rights were also seen during the progressive era as they advocated for various reforms like call for protective labor laws. Despite having been granted voting rights in 19 th century, the essay also highlights that women activists took the role of drafting new amendments that would ensure equal rights and protect women from discrimination. Thus, the first wave of feminism was an important part of women’s fight for their rights.
References
Anand, Tara. 2018. "A Brief Summary Of The First Wave Of Feminism". Blog. https://feminisminindia.com/2018/04/24/summary-first-wave-of-feminism/
Cohen, Miriam. 2012. "Women And The Progressive Movement". Blog. https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-now/essays/women-and-progressive-movement
Cruea, Susan M. "Changing ideals of womanhood during the nineteenth-century woman movement." ATQ 19, no. 3 (2005): 187.
Gilder Lehrman. 2020. "Women And The Progressive Movement | AP US History Study Guide From The Gilder Lehrman Institute Of American History". Ap.Gilderlehrman.Org . https://ap.gilderlehrman.org/essays/women-and-progressive-movement.
1 Anand, Tara. 2018. "A Brief Summary Of The First Wave Of Feminism". Blog. https://feminisminindia.com/2018/04/24/summary-first-wave-of-feminism/
2 Cruea, Susan M. "Changing ideals of womanhood during the nineteenth-century woman movement." ATQ 19, no. 3 (2005): 187.
3 Cruea, Susan M. "Changing ideals of womanhood during the nineteenth-century woman movement." ATQ 19, no. 3 (2005): 187.
4 Anand, Tara. 2018. "A Brief Summary Of The First Wave Of Feminism". Blog. https://feminisminindia.com/2018/04/24/summary-first-wave-of-feminism/
5 Cruea, Susan M. "Changing ideals of womanhood during the nineteenth-century woman movement." ATQ 19, no. 3 (2005): 187.
6 Cruea, Susan M. "Changing ideals of womanhood during the nineteenth-century woman movement." ATQ 19, no. 3 (2005): 187.
7 Gilder Lehrman. 2020. "Women And The Progressive Movement | AP US History Study Guide From The Gilder Lehrman Institute Of American History". Ap.Gilderlehrman.Org . https://ap.gilderlehrman.org/essays/women-and-progressive-movement.
8 Cohen, Miriam. 2012. "Women And The Progressive Movement". Blog. https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-now/essays/women-and-progressive-movement
9 Cruea, Susan M. "Changing ideals of womanhood during the nineteenth-century woman movement." ATQ 19, no. 3 (2005): 187.
10 Cohen, Miriam. 2012. "Women And The Progressive Movement". Blog. https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-now/essays/women-and-progressive-movement
11 Cohen, Miriam. 2012. "Women And The Progressive Movement". Blog. https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-now/essays/women-and-progressive-movement
12 Cohen, Miriam. 2012. "Women And The Progressive Movement". Blog. https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-now/essays/women-and-progressive-movement
13 Gilder Lehrman. 2020. "Women And The Progressive Movement | AP US History Study Guide From The Gilder Lehrman Institute Of American History". Ap.Gilderlehrman.Org . https://ap.gilderlehrman.org/essays/women-and-progressive-movement.
14 Cohen, Miriam. 2012. "Women And The Progressive Movement". Blog. https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-now/essays/women-and-progressive-movement
