"How Did Women's Suffrage Change American Society"

"How Did Women's Suffrage Change American Society?"

    Dishwashers, globes, and car heaters, what do they have in common? The fact that they were inventions from women who did not get recognition. Since the beginning of time you can see examples of the work of women gone unnoticed. When looking at the issue straight on you can see women were helping to improve society, but they weren't allowed to actively participate in society for themselves. People (mainly men) felt women were only to be used as tools to better men. These ancient ideas were finally challenged beginning at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848.

     Women who tried to get into politics at this time were often regarded as irrational, uninformed, or just plain stupid. What wasn't realized at this time was the ideas and messages that were being spread by women were progressive. The big things that women in politics were pushing for was better funding for education and a bigger focus on education in the United States in general, more gender equality and laws protecting women's rights, and more organizations supported by the government to help families. All of the funding and focus in government had been the same for a long time, change is difficult in government. Once women got the right to vote, it was a domino effect.

     Deeply rooted in women's suffrage was women empowerment. Once women started to feel more equal, more started to stand up for themselves and share their ideas. During this time fashion began to change because women felt more confident in themselves and had more freedom to express themselves. Also, more children started to go to school and graduate because of funding gained by women politicians. This is just for Americans in general that life changed, but the big impact was on women. Since women gained more respect they were getting more job opportunities, gaining better wages, and then giving sex education attention that it had never gotten before. All of this led to a more educated, better paid, higher employment rate for women and men across the country.

     All of these factors together helped shape American society into what it is today. We have kicked the old ways of thinking to the curb and changed so many stereotypes. No longer is a women expected to stay home and take care of the kids, she can go out and get a job and be the breadwinner for the house. Women now are taken more seriously and can run for office, be president of the United States. Education has become mandatory, everyone has to learn. So, in conclusion, giving women the right to vote changed not only American politics but the way we look at fashion, gender equality, the American education system, and women's confidence. These are all parts of the building blocks of a society, which is why the vote for women mattered so much.

Grace Wolski

George Whittell High School

Douglas County School District

"How Did Women's Suffrage Change American Society?"

     Voting is a fundamental right within a democracy, presumably guaranteed to each of the citizens of the United States since the ratification of the Constitution. Without the contributions of every citizen affected by policy, we tread towards despotism. With the ratification of the 19th amendment in 1920, America drew one step closer to the lofty ideals set forth in her founding frameworks. While the legislature did not protect the voting rights of all women (the Voting Rights Act would not be passed until 1965) it radically shifted the political and social landscape of the time (US Archives).

     Quickly after the adoption of the 19th Amendment, the organizations that fought for its ratification directed their efforts to maternity care. The Sheppard-Towner act, introduced in 1918 to remedy the high infant mortality rates among low income households, gained little traction without the support of women's suffrage groups and their newly enfranchised constituents (Lemons). However, there were few other sudden changes in policy enabled by suffrage itself. Many may argue that prohibition was the result of women's suffrage, as many Dry organizations were led by women, but the prohibition amendment was ratified prior to the 19th amendment. The decade directly following the passage of the 19th amendment was one marked by political stagnation and ineffective enforcement, in part due to male politicians' assumptions that women would vote in a bloc, rather than having a diverse range of political views (Zhang 2018). Female progressives still continued to attempt to make change, but little was accomplished due to the widespread fear of radicalism. Since 1980, however, there has been a larger proportion of female voters than male ones. This phenomenon has been dubbed the Gender Gap in voting. There is a slight trend amongst women voters to favor more liberal policies and politics (Presidential Gender Watch).

     From a social perspective, far more change occurred. The iconic flapper girl emerged promptly after the passing of the 19th amendment, acting as a public demonstration of new feminine agency. While it would be another 50 years until women could obtain their own line of credit, the popularity of this independent and irreverent archetype forced the public to become comfortable with female autonomy. The ability to vote also sparked creation of other women's organizations, such as that which would eventually come to be known as Planned Parenthood. Later, women's voting patterns would overturn the law that deemed information about contraception obscene. The ability to vote laid the seeds for entrance into the workforce, widespread entrance into the legislature, and entrance into the business world.

     The right to vote was not the last step in the path that would welcome women as full citizens of the United States. Those belonging to racial minorities would have to continue pushing for their voting rights for decades more. Recent voter ID laws have prevented transgender women from casting their ballots (National Center for Transgender Equality fund 2018).

     While the work is not done, and voter suppression is still common, the 19th amendment marked a step in the right direction (Newkirk 2018). Ensuring women the right to vote created some policy changes, and the government had to affirm the humanity of this new constituency. Let us continue to fight so that every American may have a say in our democracy.

Hannalea Weinzweig

Proctor Hug High School

Washoe County High School

"How Did Women's Suffrage Change American Society?"

     Susan B. Anthony once said, 'It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union.... Men, their rights and nothing more; women their rights and nothing less.' As Anthony explained, women have been there since the beginning of this country. But still, they were not considered citizens or have the right to vote. Aiming to change this, the women's suffrage movement began (AZ Quotes). 

     In 1848 the movement started at a convention in Seneca Falls, New York. Led by Elizabeth Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, the supporters held peaceful protests pushing for voting rights (National Women's History Museum). After fifty years of persistent campaigns, women gained this right on August 26, 1920, and, in doing so created the nineteenth amendment to the constitution, stating, 'The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by state on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation (History).'

     Now, a time where women couldn't vote seems crazy. Imagine, if you are a woman, not having this right. Also, if it wasn't for this movement, women would not be able to run for office (National Women's History Museum).

     The suffrage movement didn't just gain women the right to vote and run for office. It also started a push for equal rights. This amendment never passed, but it made people aware of the subject, and hopefully one day in the future, this will be a part of the constitution (National Women's History Museum).

     After fifty dedicated years of campaigning, women gained the right to vote. The determined men and women who pushed for this, against the common opinion, helped shape this country into the place it is today. Because of this, I will be forever grateful.

Alexia Ranftl

Las Vegas Day School

Clark County School District     

"How Did Women's Suffrage Change American Society?"

     Americans born today have difficulty recognizing that society wasn't always so accepting of women's suffrage. In the early 1900s women didn't have the right to do many of the things men enjoyed, an example being having the right to vote. Men were opposed to giving women voting rights because many of them were raised to believe that women only worked at home. Allowing women to vote went against most of their beliefs.

     Today there are about 168 million women versus 164 million men in America (19Ja). In 1900, men outnumbered women 39 million to 37 million (Brunner). The population of women has grown exponentially, so allowing women to vote unlocks the brainpower of more than half the country.

     Giving women the right to vote reinforce the idea that women should be treated as equals. By the early 1920s, there were higher expectations for women. They could attend college and work in professions only men had worked in before, such as law, medicine, and corporate jobs. This led women to become more productive members of society. No longer staying home all day, women's contributions in many different fields including aerospace, sports, and aviation, are remarkable. Sally Ride became the first American woman to go to space, Billie Jean King beat the number one male tennis player Bobby Riggs, and Amelia Earhart became the first woman to receive the Distinguished Flying Cross.

     These achievements have created a more balanced country where men aren't the only ones making decisions and being recognized for their hard work. With such brave women, America has thrived. The nineteenth amendment may have marked the end of the women's suffrage movement, but it also marks the beginning of a time where women are more respected and prominent in American Society.

Karen Wu

Las Vegas Day School

Clark County School District