Gender inequality has been an issue since far before the present day. From wage gaps, to marriage relations, to a woman’s right to abortion, gender inequality is highly prevalent in U.S history. Gender inequalities are a major issue because they prevent women from having equal opportunities when compared to men. Though there are many examples of gender inequality, three of the instances that proved to change gender relations as a whole are the most influential. These instances are the suffragette movement in 1917, the Women’s March For Equality, and Roe v Wade.
The suffragette movement in 1917 was a monumental time for women. Not only were they fighting to ban alcohol to combat the alcoholism running rampant in their husbands; but they were fighting for the right to vote. Since most women were for prohibition, men of the same persuasion wanted more votes, and knew they could get them from women. Pretty soon the men for prohibition were voting for women’s suffrage. Eventually, in 1920, women were finally granted the right to vote. This change in federal policy opened many doors for many people, and supplied the government with more voters, and thus a better opportunity of justly serving underserved populations.
The Women’s March for Equality in 1970 was a monumental event that is still celebrated today.
The goal of the march was to fight for equality for women in the home, schools and offices. Held on the 50th anniversary of the 19th amendment, the Women’s March was spearheaded by the women in charge of the National Organization for Women, and was held on August 26th, 1970. Feminists from 40 different American cities, France, and the Netherlands banded together in the fight for gender equality. In NYC alone, over 10,000 people gathered together in the march. The women linked arms like “suffrage veterans” who came before them.
Roe v Wade is one of the most debated congressional decisions to this day. In 1973 the Supreme Court made the landmark decision to illegalize restricting access or criminalizing a woman’s access to safe abortion. The choice was made when the Supreme Court decided that it goes against a woman’s constitutional right to force her to carry an unwanted pregnancy. The reasoning for this is that a woman’s body and what she chooses to do with it is a private matter between her and her doctor, and therefore, interfering with that would display an abuse of right to privacy.
In conclusion, though there have been many events in history that have made incredible differences in women’s equality, these three highlight the prevalent changes. The suffragettes gave women the right to vote. The Women’s March demonstrates the power women have when they work together. And Roe v Wade gave women true ownership of their own bodies. These events in history demonstrate how gender equality is a progress, and it is constantly being worked on and revised.
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