Women's Role in the Civil Rights Movement

Many scholars believed that because women in the period of the American Revolution did not have the right to vote and did nothing to change that situation, they were non-political people. However, analysts have realized that women keenly participated in political debates that characterized the journey towards sovereignty. Moreover, after the war, most women worked to acquire great political roles. More importantly, women had an important part in the civil rights movement and mainly influenced the political, social, and educational landscape of America.

Indeed, there were numerous ideological and legal challenges faced by women who desired a direct and increasingly active link to politics. The law of coverture denied married women ownership of themselves and their property. Additionally, the doctrine refused to give women a chance to communicate their political opinions formally. Nonetheless, renowned leaders like Harriot Stanton, Alice Paul, and Carrie Chapman Catt fought to ensure that women had the important right to vote (Skemp, 2016). Although the struggle for this achievement was arduous and usually virulent, Congress finally ratified the 19th Amendment that accorded full voting privileges to women.

Furthermore, the exertions of the women's rights movement to attain parity in the field of education led to extensive changes. They pointed out the disproportions in teacher earnings and promotions, revealing that women instructors received fewer promotions and salaries than men.