The Struggle for Emancipation of Women :: Papers

The Struggle for Emancipation of Women Describe and compare the progress made to secure rights for women (Economically, educationally, legally, politically, etc.) between 1870 and 1900) Before 1870 Women's education depended on their class. If you were born into an Upper or Middle class family a Governess would have tutored you privately, while Working class women might of gone to a Sunday school to learn the basics of reading and writing. Women didn't need an education before 1870 as they wouldn't need to work unless if you were Working class, and also because a women's opinion never mattered, they had to sit there and look pretty. There were many changes after 1870, such as Elementary, Public and Universities were being founded. All children, both boys and girls, were made to go to elementary school till the age of 9. Also the Universities and Colleges such as the Cheltenham Ladies College were a break through in women's education. These new laws Guaranteed education of Middle and Working Class women. Women started to think for themselves after this but sexism was still there, it was an improvement but wasn't a huge improvement. The Elementary schools may of given opportunities to the lower classes but these were largely overcrowded and they had to leave at the age of 9, which doesn't help them much as at this age they were still too young for jobs. There was progress during this period, due to the fact of before this time there was no guaranteed education for the working class, as after 1870 this was made possible. Before 1870 women's jobs were very menial and repetitive and also were often at a much lower rate than of a man doing the same job. Upper and Middle Class women were very idle before 1870 and spent most of their time playing the piano or just looking pretty. The working class women had low paid jobs such as; Domestic service, working in fields and Factory working, the Upper and Middle Class women of the times duties