Women in the 1800's

          In the 1800's, women did not have some...or even most of the opportunities that they do today. The laws were different so that men, in all situations, were the dominant gender. Men were made out to be the superior gender. Whether it was jobs, ownership of property, or even freedom of speech; women were shut down. When women tried to get their rights and fight for their beliefs, it didn't always work. But eventually, they got what they asked for. But there were many steps along the way.

          Back before women had all of their rights, there were four characteristics of an ideal woman. Piety, purity, submissiveness, and domesticity; these were what an ideal woman should have. Piety meant that women should have religious devotion, they should always go to church and must believe in God. Purity meant that women should be pure and cherish her greatest treasure, her virginity. Submissiveness means that women should keep themselves nice and proper and always follow the rules. Lastly, domesticity means that they should care for the house. Women should stay in their homes and do all the chores and care for the children while men were at work. Doesn't seem that fair for the women, does it?

          The Seneca Falls Convention was a way that women hoped they could get their voice out there. It was a meeting in July of 1848 where people gathered to discuss women's rights in the U.S. 300 people went to the convention, believe or not but 40 of those people were men! That shows that women weren't the on;y ones who believed that women should be given more fair rights. It seems that only the voices of the rich white women were heard that day. Women of different ethnicity, different culture, and different social class were at the convention but were there but their voices weren't as important as the rich white women.

         I think that women should be given almost all the rights they were restricted of. Freedom of speech is the most important because everyone deserves to be heard. It's included in the Declaration of Independence! Why should they be cut of that freedom now? Women still aren't considered equal to men in some places in the modern day life, but times have definitely changed for the better. If change keeps happening like the way that it has over the past couple hundred years, women will one day be equally treated.