Women in the 19th Century Essay Sample

Throughout early history, women were the backbone of the home front. But women were often disregarded in aspects such as politics and the military, thought of only as homemakers. Women gradually wove their way into history in the late 1700s to the early 1900s. From 1775-1887, the roles women had in our society came a long way, though their rights stayed virtually the same. 

During the American Revolution, families were split apart as the men went off to fight and the women were forced to stay at home. With all the women at home, they began to ease their way into the public eye with involvement in politics. Women were often the primary decision makers when it came to finances, so their rebellion against the Townshend Acts was extremely significant (Yawp Page 118 & 121). Women also had to take on jobs usually exclusive to men such as working on farms or in taverns and shops (Yawp Page 131). Women being outside of the home became normalized, at least slightly. This was the first step in the development of women’s roles in society. 

After the revolution, the Bill of Rights emerged, and there was no protection for women, and no guarantee that they would have a voice in the government, but women of all backgrounds wanted a voice in the political conversation (Yawp Page 150 & 170). The idea of being a US citizen was changing and developing, and women were recognized as essential to society and passing on American ideals to future generations (Yawp Page 176). “Historians have used the term Republican Motherhood to describe the early American belief that women were essential in nurturing the principles of liberty in the citizenry” (Yawp Page 176). The entire country began to appreciate what women brought to the table.

Once the revolution was officially over, the economy began to thrive. With women proving during the revolution that they were competent workers, men and women know worked alongside each other. The working conditions were all but good, especially for immigrant women who were said to work “thirteen hours a day, six days a week” (Yawp Page 199). While women were allowed to work outside of the house, it was a symbol of wealth if women and children could stay at home and not have to work (Yawp Page 212). Women being allowed to work was a significant step culturally, but it of course came with harsh conditions and low wages. “Women and children worked to supplement the low wages of many male workers” (Yawp Page 212). Many women became involved with clothing related businesses, such as cloth production, seamstress jobs, and milliner jobs (Yawp Page 215). While they were working in poor conditions and for low wages, women were officially integrated into the work force which was a huge step in gaining the societal respect they desired.

As the idea of democracy became standard in society, wealthy women were very influential in politics. “Although women could not vote or hold office, they played an important role in politics as people who controlled influence” (Yawp Page 236). While low- and middle-class women slaved in the work force, wealthy women were the center of scandals (for example, Margaret Eaton and the Petticoat affair, Yawp Page 235) and became more socially accepted. Money was the main reason for this, as if a woman was wealthy, her husband was wealthy and had influence in politics and social issues. 

When the 19th century rolled around, the atmosphere of the United States began to change rapidly. Social reform became a huge movement, as well as a big religious revival. On the side of religion, women were more welcome in many churches, with some pastors allowing women to express themselves in church and “participate in spiritual communities” (Yawp Page 258). This was a big deal due to many religions like protestants for example who discouraged or completely forbid women from speaking in church (Yawp Page 258). They were allowed to have a role in their religious beliefs, even if it was just talking in church. 

In this time, they were allowed to participate in societal things like having public political opinions, working outside of the home, and church, but their overall rights never changed. Even when women became the backbones of the abolition movement, they were still not as seen as entirely equal. In the 1830’s, women began to form “societies” or groups dedicated to the anti-slavery cause (Yawp Page 276). While they couldn’t vote on anti-slavery like men could, they could petition the government freely on the issue (Yawp Page 276). The Grimke sisters toured the country talking about slavery, and they made the connection in the fight for women’s rights and abolishing slavery, making it a dual fight (Yawp Page 276). With the fight for Women’s rights finally gaining momentum, the Declaration of Sentiments was created.  “They championed property rights, access to the professions, and, most controversially, the right to vote” (Yawp Page 277). This sent a powerful message to everyone that women were serious about equal rights, especially when they formatted the Declaration of Sentiments in a similar format to the Declaration of Independence. Once again, women were making strides in fighting for their societal rights and roles.

Black women in this time were fighting a completely different fight than white women in this time. Many black women were still enslaved and doing the same work as enslaved men, working from sunrise to sunset, but they were subject to “sexual violence, unwanted pregnancies, and constant child rearing” (Yawp Page 302). Since enslaved women were viewed as property and not as individuals, the rape and heavy workloads were looked past (Yawp Page 303). This time was still fraught with inequality for white women and free black women, with the law working against women in almost all cases (Yawp Page 305). The act of marriage gave all of a woman’s property to her husband, and divorce ruined a women’s societal standing (Yawp Page 305). The argument of slavery finally hit a breaking point when the Civil War devastated the United States.

When the war broke out, most women were left at home while the men went to fight. But they were involved where they could be. They became nurses, they spied on the enemy, anything they could do to be of service (Yawp Page 390). There were specific expectations for women in this time. If they could work, they would work in hospitals as that is just what women should do, be healers. Women who became widows were expected to mourn in certain ways, wearing expensive clothing and mourned for a specific amount of time (Yawp Page 395). Of course, slavery seemed to be “solved” with Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, and the addition of the Thirteenth Amendment to make ending slavery “permanent” and “official” (Yawp Page 397). This was a big step for enslaved women, and the women who fought so hard against slavery in the early 1800’s. 

While women fought hard for rights and respect through time, men had voting rights and could do essentially what they wanted, at least white men. They were expected to fight in wars, earn the money, and be the “man” essentially. The roles and rights of white men never really developed in this time because they had rights the entire time. Black men were mostly enslaved, and they had to fight for their rights in this time, just like women. 

In this period, women’s societal roles underwent serious development. They went from being just homemakers to heading huge social movements, working outside of the home, and drafting their own declaration of independence for their rights. Their rights stayed essentially the same, but there was serious progress made in their quest to get the equal rights they were fighting hard for, especially with the Declaration of Sentiments. Overall, the roles of women greatly changed and developed, and the rights of women stayed the same.