| Women living a life of religious freedom, having a | | | | some time and denied in 1936. Birth control became |
| voice in government, and attending schools is normal | | | | legal in 1965. The second wave for this era started |
| in our everyday lives as we reach the new millenium. | | | | mainly in the sixties. In 1964 the Civil Rights Act was |
| However, women did not always have an equal say | | | | passed, prohibiting employment discrimination for the |
| or chance in life. In our American History, women | | | | sexes as well as race, religion, and national origin. Two |
| have demonstrated and worked for reform of | | | | years later, a woman named Betty Friedan opened |
| women's rights. Through seven generations, it took | | | | the National Organization for Women, which was |
| many meetings, petition drives, lobbying, public | | | | followed by other organizations tending to other |
| speaking, and nonviolent resistance to make our | | | | minorities as well. By 1972, the Equal Rights |
| world the way it is now. The Women's Rights | | | | Ammendment is re-introduced and finally passed and |
| Movement begins its task on July 13th, 1848, where | | | | sent to the states for ratification. "Equality of rights |
| a lady named Elizabeth Cady Stanton decided enough | | | | under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the |
| was enough, and she started the fight for her rights | | | | United Stats or by any state on account of sex". To |
| as well asall women's rights. Within the next week of | | | | be ratified, it required 38 states to approve, which |
| her decision she held a convention in Seneca Falls | | | | was said to be just about a "shoo-in". So, the |
| called, "A convention to discuss the social, civil, and | | | | campaigns started, and marches, and |
| religious condition and rights of woman". Stanton | | | | demonstrations....by 1982 the deadline for ratification |
| created a list to present called "Declaration of | | | | reached and they had just about enough votes to |
| Sentiments" which stated areas in life where women | | | | support the ERA. Today, at the begining of the |
| were treated unjustly. (*1) After the second day of | | | | millenium, women have made clear progress since |
| the convention, every resolution on her declaration | | | | Elizabeth Stanton declared enough was enough. The |
| was passed except the one that called for women | | | | first woman elected to Congress was in 1916. By |
| the right to vote. As time passed, however, many | | | | 1971, women were still less than 3% of our political |
| conventions were held all the way up to the Civil | | | | representatives. And today women only hold an 11% |
| War. Women just like Stanton, such as Susan B. | | | | of seats in congress, and 21% of state legistative |
| Anthony, Lucy Stone, and Sojourner Truth traveled | | | | seats. Although these numbers seem small, women |
| throughout the country lecturing and organizing for | | | | have made a big impact and changed thousands of |
| the next fourty years. A 72 year battle includes | | | | local, state, and federal laws that had limited women's |
| many speakers, political strategists, organizers, | | | | legal status and social roles. In our country today, a |
| lobbyist, and so forth, until what is needed is done. | | | | man, or a woman has chance to fulfill their dreams, |
| Thousands of people participating in the movement | | | | to go to a good school of choice and become |
| to now win "that most basic American civil right"...the | | | | something. When you ask that little girl what she |
| right to vote. The vote was finally won in 1920, but | | | | wants to be when she grows up, she is no longer |
| this was not the end. Suffragists became active in | | | | influenced by society's discriminations, she can reach |
| fighting for the rights for protection from abuse in | | | | for the stars. Gloria May writes custom essays at |
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