History

The events resulting from World War period had to have profound impacts on how the women viewed the world. Initially, women had few rights which they enjoyed but the war would change that for ever. The womans domain was restricted to taking care of the husband and the children. Women were simply restricted to the domestic chores and child rearing. During the war years, the women assumed positions in the factories as men went to the field to fight. This opportunity helped the women to gauge their capabilities and alter their cosmology forever. By the year 1918, women in Britain were granted the voting rights for those who were over 30 years of age. America followed suit in the year 1920. In 1950, 69 countries had granted the women population the right to vote. The trend continued until today women in many democratic societies have the voting rights except for a few regimes especially in the Middle East. The World War event opened a new horizon for women as there was a shift in roles as they were required to fill areas exclusively considered as the mens domain. Women for instance worked as nurses serving in the hospitals in the United States and overseas. At times, they were required to follow the male soldiers in the field to offer assistance when it was needed (Laura, Para 1).
There were women rights movements that agitated for the women rights having realized that women were an important part of the community and that they had been ignored for long. One would wonder whether the success of these movements was dependent on the womens activism or on the changing roles of the women as wage earners in the society. It becomes illogical when the change in roles wants to supersede the activism in the sense that it is likely that the latter led to the former.
Women Activism
    In the United States, the 19th Amendment was a major turning point in the political history. This Amendment was ratified by the congress in 1920 giving the American women the rights to actively participate in the democratic process. This was in recognition and appreciation of the American women for their readiness to help during the war (Duff, Para 30). The 19th Amendment can however be attributed to the tireless efforts of women feminists including Elizabeth Stanton and Susan B. Anthony who formed the National Women Suffrage Association in 1869 championing for an array of rights for women. Their efforts were thwarted due to lack of representation in the government. In 1920s, women still faced discrimination at the work place in wages and priority of employment favoring the men. After the 1920s, women rights movement cooled down and this was attributed to a number of reasons. Partly, this was due to the achievement of the suffrage goal, and because the younger women were less interested in reform and more in rebelling against social conventions (Acumen PI, Para 2).
    Tribute to the success of the 20th century goes to the initial activities of the feminists in the 19th century. Women long before their movements had formed groups based on common interests. After the French Revolution of 1848, various women political groupings took shape in Europe whereas in the United States, the women formed temperance societies. In the United States and Britain, there were two characteristic movements that developed which included social or the domestic movements and the equal rights feminist groups. The social movements were concerned with charitable and social activities, and on the other hand, the equal rights groups worked hard to clear barriers in educational and political matters in order to bring about change in the roles of women (Bryant, Para 55).
    Before the American Civil War, most of the women movements were preoccupied with duties of benevolence and social type including promoting temperance, helping poor women and orphans. Very few groups were concerned with fighting for equal rights for women. Such groups had a clear cut goal of improving the woman welfare in the society. Those fighting for women rights were first rewarded in 1821 with the establishment of the Troy Female Seminary in Troy to offer high school education to the girls. In 1833, there was the first coeducational college in the United States that incorporated the girl child. The women efforts during the 1840-50s led to acquisition of property rights by the women. Women were now able to make contracts, have control over their earnings, own property, and have joint custody of their children, (Bryant, Para 60).
    Feminists led by Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton held a convention in 1848 where women rights issues were discussed leading to the reforms in the legal system. This prompted other conventions across the globe championing for the womens rights. Radical feminists like Susan B. Anthony who was a womens rights leader formed the National Woman Suffrage Association which demanded for equal education, equal employment opportunities, and voting rights for women with immediate effect. There was also the American Woman Suffrage Association led by Lucy Stone that was quite moderate in its demand for women equality. The two organizations were formed in 1869 and later merged in 1890 to form the National American Woman Suffrage association (NAWSA). These feminists held conventions, carried out campaigns to rally out support from women and other feminists (Bryant, Para 62). Their spirited campaigns gave rise to the suffrage rights and many more rights that are being enjoyed by the modern woman.
    The efforts of the 19th century activists no doubt laid a strong foundation onto which the success of the women rights movement was to be based. Despite the many impediments they had to face, these brave women never hesitated to march forward and push for their agenda. They knew that one day their objective would be achieved even if some did not live to witness the triumph of their struggle. It is the activism as opposed to changing roles of women that led to success in women movements of the 19th century.
Conclusion
The road for equality for women hasnt been an easy one. They have been faced with numerous obstacles including ridicule, indifference, congress and legislative obstacles. The struggle for equality has not stopped but has always continued throughout the years and is far from over. The women fraternity needs to bond together in this struggle. Impressive achievements can only be achieved through determination and perseverance of the modern feminist. The women movements as they are today in the world owes a great heritage from the pioneer feminists of the 19th century. The fire that was started by the earlier feminists movements should be kept burning until equality has been achieved in all aspects of life.