By Anna Meany
March begins Women’s History Month, which celebrates women who have had significant influences on society. Rosa Parks, Amelia Earhart, Eleanor Roosevelt and Harriet Tubman are part of a long list of women who are worthy of recognition. Women’s History Month is also a remembrance of a horrible time in which women, as well as other minorities, were not legally considered equals.
Basic privileges, such as voting and owning property, were denied to women. Women were seen as less intellectually capable, therefore needing the care and control of men. This was most exemplified during the Victorian era of the mid-1800s to early 1900s. A woman of the household was expected to entertain guests and personify the ideal wife, submitting to her husband’s every command. Women were imprisoned in their societal roles, unable to release personal creativity.
I understand that this makes me sound like a bit of a feminist. If, however, you assume this month is dedicated to hardcore men-loathing feminists, please discontinue reading. Feminism is often misinterpreted when it comes to civil rights issues. Historical female figures have fought for the equal treatment of women and the end of oppression toward women. While I consider myself a feminist, I’m not irrational and I only take interest in crucial women’s rights issues. Issues such as a female CEO being paid less than a male CEO don’t concern me, because I consider them petty. What I am concerned with are modern issues related to basic rights.
Women’s History Month is not only a call to remember all the great women of society who worked toward a better planet. It’s a reminder that parts of the world still oppress women and there is still a continued need for justice. Some people that claim the United States still discriminates against women. I would have to respectfully disagree. While topics like abortion are prevalent in the realm of modern American women’s issues, they are far less crucial than the abuse and mistreatment of women in poorer countries. In areas of war, women are raped by barbaric groups. Governments don’t recognize or attempt to stop the abuse, which creates an endless cycle of irresponsible leadership.
How did women become less than men to begin with? Perhaps it is the ever-present need to control society and the weakness of a woman’s body that drove men to assume control? It could very well have been religion. The Bible clearly states that women should happily submit to their husbands. It’s a bold statement, but it is worth considering. What created the division among the sexes in humans that isn’t present among many other species?
During Women’s History Month, remember women’s influences on our lives. Remember the issues that females faced in the past, as well as those they still face today.
