Women's Reform

In mid 19th century America, there was a demand for women's equality. In the picture above, there are circles around some of the items that a mother may have to take care of. She would have to teach the kids how to read, take care of the baby and the dog, as well as various other things. They were expected to do all of the household chores. While this may seem like a typical household, it would likely be a little different. It would probably be more hectic, The children might not be getting along, and the mother might be cooking a meal for her husband who will soon arrive at home.

In 1848, a list of Laws and Practices was made. This enraged many women because there were some rules that were just inhumane. A woman was not allowed to speak in public, divorce their husband, or go to college. Later that year, in July of 1848, many women met in Seneca Falls for a convention. They felt it was necessary for them to voice their opinion and have more equality in life. They created a list called the Declarations of Sentiments and Resolutions, in response to the Laws and Practices, that voiced the opinions of women. It starts by saying all of the things that men restricted women from doing or having, like the ability to own property of even keep their wages. Next, it lists all of the things that the women want, like having the ability to do what they want in society and that men and women were created equal and should be treated this way. There were various newspapers that responded to the events at the Seneca Falls convention. In one, called the Oneida Wig, they were very much against the convention and the ideas portrayed there. "This bolt is the most shocking and unnatural incident ever recorded in the history of womanity. If our ladies insist on voting and legislating, where, gentlemen, will be our dinners and our elbows?" This is completely wrong. They literally treat their wives as slaves. They think that the women's ideas are merely jokes and that they don't matter, when they truly deserve to be treated better. Some newspapers, like the National Reformer, were for the movement. They wrote "...they will carry a weight of argument which the cobwebs of misinterpreted authority and special pleadings of those who only wish for equal rights for one half of creation, can never answer." They speak of the words that the women say, and that they are legit and have true meaning. They say that these words can not be responded upon by men because they make sense and they can't use the typical excuse that they would normally use.

Unfortunately, women are not treated the way that they should be, even today. The video from above is a Pantene commercial showing the stereotypes placed on women today. One example is the first one, where they show the man as a boss, but the woman as bossy. It just shows you that the issues of women in the workplace were not only issues then, but still now. I think that the overall idea of sexism still lies in society today, While it may not be everyone, you seem to see sexism in society more than you might assume. Overall, in this time period, women were treated poorly, and even their largest attempts at having more of a role were not always successful.