The American women’s right to vote was codified in the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1920. It was achieved only after a great deal of determination and hardship. These women were known as Suffragettes or Suffragists, a more general term for members of suffrage movements. These women were mainly from middle class backgrounds that were frustrated by their social and economic situation, and sought a way to initiate change. They marched in protests many of which ended in imprisonment, so they went on hunger strikes, during which they were restrained and force fed. Finally, these unwarranted tortures hit the presses and they were finally embarrassing to the then President Wilson administration and were released. Finally, in a consensus vote, they were granted the right to vote.
During World War 1, a serious shortage of (manpower) occurred, and women were required to take on many of the traditional male roles. This led to a new view of what women were capable of doing, and it was finally decided that it would be in the best interest of the country to allow women to vote.
Since then, women have elevated to positions that were always previously held by men.
We now have women doctors and surgeons, lawyers, teachers and professors. Women also have positions as policemen, firemen, soldiers, road workers, factory workers, truck drivers, and many others. Over the years, there has been an increase in women in various positions of government as mayors, governors, senators, representatives, and even supreme court justices’.
This Thursday, the Senate has confirmed Elena Kagan as the 112th Supreme Court Justice, and the fourth woman in its history. The vote was 63-37 for President Barack Obama’s nominee to succeed retired Justice John Paul Stevens. Ms. Kagan in 1988, served as a clerk for Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. In 1995-96, she was an associate counsel to President Bill Clinton. In 1999-2003, she was a Harvard law professor, and in 2003-09, she was the first female dean of Harvard Law School. In 2009, she became the first female solicitor general of the U.S, winning a Senate confirmation. Then, on May 9, 2010, she was selected by President Barack Obama as nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court.
Kagan is the first Supreme Court nominee in nearly 40 years with no experience as a judge, and after swearing in will be the first time in history that three women will serve on the nine-member court together. Because of her lack of judicial experience, there was a delay by the Republicans who many feel she will use her post to push the Democratic agenda. However, time will tell, but this is a monumental time in US history to have three women elevated to be Supreme Court justices during the same time period. Women have definitely come a long way, thanks to the determined struggles of our early suffragettes.
Helen L. Price
Excerpts from Mail Tribune
Tags: Helen L Price
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