Women’s Rights are repeatedly detected to be at the center of attention, as they are frequently infringed upon. However, if looked back on history just 200 years ago, women did not have nearly as much freedom and abilities as modern females do today. The path to equal society is yet to be established; nevertheless, thanks to all the courageous women, we have various abilities that were previously never even thought of. Hence, this essay will reflect on how the current state of Women’s rights was shaped throughout this movement’s history.
The path to acquiring full civil rights and nowadays battle for equal social treatment had started in the early 19th century when women became tired of being unable to perform simple actions. The first gathering emphasizing women’s rights happened pre-Civil War in 1848, where a “Declaration of Sentiments, Grievances, and Resolutions” was presented (United States House of Representatives). The document initially implied that all men and women are created equal, promoting this to the masses. The women’s suffrage association became the first united force of the female power, which demanded fundamental civil rights not only for women but also for the African-Americans (“Women’s Suffrage in the Progressive Era”). This association’s initial purpose was to acquire the right to vote, which later expanded to gaining economic and political equality.
The major event that marked the women’s rights movement’s victory was the passing of the 19th amendment in 1920. According to the document, females’ were finally acquiring the right to vote, with over 26 million voters being added to the register, making it the biggest voting expansion in the United States history (Bleiweis et al.). Even though several states had already given women a partial or full right to vote by that time, all females ultimately gained a mechanism to influence the country’s destiny equal to men.
As the women’s rights movement was becoming more extensive around the globe, its first official worldwide recognition did not come until the mid-20th century. Collective female power achieved the passing of the 1967 Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women by the United Nations, which approved any action against a woman’s dignity as an offense (United Nations 5). The document implied abolishing all existing laws that mentioned any form of gender discrimination towards women and the development and adequate equal rights protection in each country.
At the 1995 World Conference on Women, the historical speech of Hilary Clinton marked the beginning of the clear framework for improvement. Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action became the first comprehensive document with specific milestones to advance women’s rights in all spheres (Vogelstein). On that day, millions of women gained a sense of hope and determination that leads them to this day in every action taken to provide equal rights across all industries, from politics to education.
Since that time, many milestones were achieved by women, making the life of a modern female much easier than 200 years ago. Nevertheless, there are still hundreds of unresolved issues concerning inequality towards women, which are yet to be resolved. The women’s solidarity is rising every day, one example of which is the 2017 Washington women’s march, gaining the title of the biggest mass demonstration supporting women’s rights (Vogelstein). From that time, women’s marches are constantly held around the world, showing unanimous support for equal rights.
Therefore, despite the vast area of female influence, many countries still suffer from significant discrimination against women’s rights. However, with powerful tools of the 21st century like social media and the Internet, the topic of their importance became more vocal. Despite many accomplishments of the equal rights movement, it is vital to commemorate and remember the achievements of legendary women who initiated this movement and made the modern possibilities available.
Works Cited
Bleiweis, Robin, et al. “100 Years After the 19th Amendment, the Fight for Women’s Suffrage Continues.” Center for American Progress, 2020. Web.
United Nations. Women’s Rights Are Human Rights. 2014.
United States House of Representatives. The Women’s Rights Movement, 1848–1920. Web.
Vogelstein, Rachel. “Landmarks in the Global Movement for Women’s Rights: A Timeline.” Council on Foreign Relations, 2020. Web.
“Women’s Suffrage in the Progressive Era.” Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Web.