Gender equality is a topic that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Inequalities between the sexes has always been an issue in the world. Any problem that affects nearly half of all the people on earth needs to be resolved. Throughout history there have been few exceptions to the belief that men should be given more rights and are ultimately more important than women. Women were
treated poorly during the 19th century and are still treated unfairly in many aspects of life in the present.
On July 19-20, 1848 The Seneca Falls Convention was held in New York. This gathering sought to finally address the injustices that society placed upon women. Women in the early 19th century were not allowed to speak in public, own property, or vote. They also could be beaten by their husbands, couldn’t attend college, and were paid less than half as much money as the men who held the same job. The women and men who attended The Seneca Falls Convention felt that these laws and traditions needed to be abolished.The convention was the first women’s rights convention ever to take place. This video gives a basic introduction as to what The Seneca Falls Convention was https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13Qc1ELn9-8&feature=youtu.be.
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| This picture shows how women were supposed to act in the 19th century |
A newspaper article in the Oneida Whig summarized the event. The article says that “In the covenant of marriage she is compelled to promise obedience to her husband, he becoming all intents and purposes he master-the law giving him power to he prove her of her liberty and to administer chastisement.” The people who attended the convention thought that marriage should not allow the man to completely control his wife’s life.
In the 21st century women and men are still treated differently. In theory both women and men are supposed to be treated equally in the 21st century United States, but oftentimes they are not. In some cases women are still paid less than men who hold the same job. It also can be more difficult for women to get jobs relating to science, technology, and engineering because the majority of workers in these fields are male. Women are also viewed differently by society. If a man has many relationships he is considered to be a gentleman and attractive, but women who are in just as many relationships are frowned upon by society. Although there are still many problems with equality for both men and women, many of the problems of the 19th century have been resolved. It is no longer ok for a man to beat his wife, women can vote, and women can attend college. The way people view the different genders has changed greatly since the 19th century, but there is still plenty of room for improvement in the future.
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