Role of women in the family

Changing Role of Women in the Family

Role of Women in the Family

In what ways did the role of women in society change during this period?

Two hundred years ago women were not seen as they are today. Married women had little rights back then married women were not allowed to own property, or land, they could not vote or sign any contracts. Women in the 18th century could not speak in public, and their words were always considered to be rumors and could not be taken seriously. The role of women back then was bear and raise children, tend to household chores, and provides care for the family.

In the society as from the graph, it is evident that women were no longer restricted to just bearing and rearing children, the role of women in the society changed, and they were now allowed to work in industries like their men counterparts Education, 2003.

This change in roles made women more aware of themselves and the number of children they conceived started reducing, with each passing decade we can establish that the number of children given birth were reducing. This was also due to the opening of the birth control clinic in 1916 by Margaret Sanger.

Women were now allowed to hold public offices, and they could speak in public for themselves instead of having their husbands speak on their behalf. The first woman in the U.S. To be elected to State House of Representatives was in Denver, CO in the year 1894. This proved that women could also be leaders and they should have the same rights as men. This election paved way for other women to be elected to similar positions. Jeanette Rankin was elected in 1916, and Hattie Wyatt Caraway in 1932.

Did the role of women in the family change at all? If so, how?

There was a change in the role of women in the family. Women were no longer caregivers and house wives. Their roles changed, and they now were also providing for the family and not just dependent on their husbands. From the map and graph provided we see the number of single working women was more than that of married working women. This shows that women were not just interested in getting married and bearing children or raising families, but they wanted also to be providers.

A settlement house for women was founded in 1889 by Jane Addams. Hull House was the name for this settlement. It provided educational and social opportunities for the European Immigrants who were the majority residents of the house. This settlement house was used mostly by women. They were the teachers and caregivers. The women used this settlement house to gain liberation and also to learn about their rights. Women were now not speechless and weak.