Page 24 - Images Literary Magazine 2016 - 2017.pdf

H ist ory of Feminism

By Jade Szost ak , Grade 8

Feminism; the advocacy of women?s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to man.
?Feminism isn?t about making women stronger. Women are already strong. It?s about changing the way the world
perceives that strength.? ? G. D. Anderson. Feminism was an extensive and national problem in the 16th century.
Three major topics about feminism in the 1600?s were, the background, the power, and the jobs in the 1600?s. In
the 1600?s women, were treated as less than men and frowned upon throughout the society in which they lived
and were treated as if they were nothing. Women were forced to live in the shadows of the men because men
were viewed as stronger and better with labor, making them more valuable to the society. As far as the
background of feminism, women had just about no rights. Women were arranged to marry and once married
women were expected to have one child per year or every other year depending on what class they were.
Although, sadly enough, divorce was not up to the women, just the men. Women could get a form of education
outside of the school district. Women did not have the rights to; vote, speak publicly, or get a formal education.
The upper class women had tutors teach them, the middle class women had their mothers teach them things like,
reading, writing, arithmetic, and sewing. The merchant's daughters were taught how to run the business. Men
could also beat their wives and children without being punished or looked down upon. Men could also chastise
their wives, and once a man chastised a women, she could no longer wear jewelry.
This information leads to next point of interest, women gaining power. Women were looked upon as useless and
treated as nothing every second of every day. Although, these were the stances of some women, some actually
had power over others in society! You may be asking yourself, ?If women had no rights, then how did some come
to have power?? Women could gain power in very few circumstances. A few of these said circumstances were that
a women could become a ruler if their husband was a king and died, unless they had a son, then he would gain all
power. Some women decided to kill their husbands to gain power, unaware that if they killed their husband, they
were killed for petty treason. If a women ever remarried after their husband's death, he would gain all of her
power and money. Finally, in the late 1800?s, the world changed for good. Women were granted an equal status in
society. Thanks to women like Susan B. Anthony, who advocated for women?s rights and equal treatment. Anthony,
and others like her, not only gained these rights, but also paved the road for all of us in making history and
affording us opportunity! Men now hold doors open for women and demonstrate respect. In the olden days,
women had no power, whereas now men may even be voting for a women president.

Artwork by Charley Faulls, Nicole Watson, Kate Markowski, and Jenna
Karaty, Grade 7