20th Century Women

Life has never been easy for women, but during the 20th Century, it was especially hard. The 20th Century was a time of change for women. Women were slowly gaining rights and discovering their own place in society. They were no longer sitting at home waiting for orders, but protesting and becoming activists for their own rights. Many of them had mixed emotions about their status in society while others knew exactly where they belonged. The 20th Century was a time of exploration and discovery for the female population. One thing is for sure, women within the United States faced many struggles, triumphs and disappointments; however, they always endured the obstacles that life threw at them.
During the 20th Century labor, health and economics …show more content…
Admittedly, there were a few struggles, but nothing women could not handle. In the article, “The Female Shape of the All-Volunteer Force,” women joining in on the war efforts are discussed. During the Vietnam War, there is no longer a draft and the military becomes an all-volunteer force. Many men refused to volunteer to join, but luckily, women were eager to take on the role. Women brought forth many contributions to the military, including awareness to “female” issues such as preventing sexual harassment, promoting healthy families and preventing sexualized torture. Women joining the military brought about many triumphs for women. The military provided women with many economic opportunities and career stability. As time progressed, women obtained the right to be promoted to higher ranks and be treated fairly. Some branches of the military were extremely accepting of women. A military career was considered to be an excellent opportunity for women, especially those who lacked economic opportunities. Many women triumphed in the military unfortunately, they still faced diversity. Women were also forced to face the hardships and risks of sexual harassment and assault. Ultimately, women gained a lot from the military. The military proved to be a viable career choice, despite its unwanted …show more content…
The suburban housewife was the considered to be the young woman’s dream. Everyone wanted to stay at home, raise their children, and take care of household chores. Well, almost everyone. In the document, “Making the Personal Political” Betty Friedan discusses “The problem that has no name.” This was the idea that the typical suburban housewife struggled with her lifestyle. Although she did a million things through-out the day, she still felt as if she never accomplished anything. Friedan states that a housewife’s daily chores were very dissatisfying and at the end of the day she was often left feeling incomplete, like she had missed something in life. Friedan argued that women were not as happy in their “perfect” lives as they pretended to be. In contrast to Friedan’s views, there is Phyllis Schlafly, who strongly believes in the idea of the suburban housewife. Schlafly was a follower of society and the views that women should remain in the house. She supported the idea that women who are miserable at home are negative and have a problem. Schlafly demands that women should be satisfied and happy to be at home doing their household chores. Schlafly says that women should be empowered and rejoice in being a woman. Women should remain positive, because negative women were obviously feminists. These two individuals are perfect examples of the conflicts between women that