Blog # 13
1. What were the main sources of feminism’s revival in the late 1960s and early 1970s? How did this differ from the “Third Wave” of feminism in the 1990s?
In 1960’s, “initially concentrated on gaining equality for women within the protest movements of black power, Chicanismo and the New left, women’s liberation soon challenged the condition of women in the larger society” (629). The main source of all of this was NOW (National Organization for Women). Women’s liberation became a large movement amongst everyone. This was actually called the “Second wave.” In 1970 the anti-feminism movement emerged and this had a “tremendous impact on mainstream American political life, all the way up to and including the presidency” (628). NOW made people see women in a more political view. Women fought for job opportunities and fair wages. By 1972 women could actually make their own choices concerning abortion and pregnancy. Women actually had a say in their life and their own bodies. However, this did cause some problems because women were being sexually harassed and there was violence.
I think that this differed from the “third wave” because a lot of good things had happened during this time for women. First of all, women held more power, especially in politics. Women were now making it into Congress, which was a huge deal. Women workers were being recognized for their employment. And most importantly, racism wasn’t as bad because women of different cultures and color were being treated more equal.
2. According to Phyllis Schlafly, “What’s Wrong with Equal Rights for Women.” Do you agree or disagree with her?
Phyllis Schalfly is not happy about the Equal Rights for Women Amendment. She thinks that this will ruin everything. In her opinion women are overreacting and “yapping about how mistreated” they are (650). She says “The truth is that American women never had it so good. Why should we lower ourselves to “equal rights” when we already have the status of special privilege” (650). In her opinion, women have got a lot of privileges that should be enough for them, an example would be the right to a divorce. She thinks that women are making it into a huge deal and that feminists are taking it too far and calls it a “noisy movement”. She thinks that this amendment will abolish a woman’s right to child support or any alimony (651). I guess she makes a good point about how women have a great privilege that any time there is a divorce, women usually have the right to take custody of the children and she thinks that the equal rights will ruin that. Basically she thinks that women should be content with what they have and it should be enough for them. I can’t say I agree, even though she makes a couple of good points, because finally women have come this far to even get any rights, so why shouldn’t they have more of it? Just because they gained a few extra privileges doesn’t mean they should just shut up and not demand for equal rights as well. Obviously, doing this won’t take away the rights that they have now. I think she’s just scared that this amendment will take away everything women earned and they will be right back where they started, which isn’t even the case.
3. In your opinion, is the war of the sexes over (in the 21st century) or do women still have a long fight ahead of them? Why or why not?
Honestly, I can say that yes the war of the sexes is pretty much over. Of course there are issues here and there that women still fight for if needed. But overall I think that women have come so far in achieving this much that the war is pretty much over. As of today, women are just as successful as men, just the fact that the first female is running for President says it all. Of course there are a lot of people that don’t like the fact that she’s running, and don’t think she would be a good president, but that’s just freedom of speech and people will always state their negative opinions no matter what. I think it’s just the fact that there are still some old fashioned people around that think a woman cannot be just as good as a man in a certain task, but that will change over time. But no matter what, there will always be a difference between a man and a woman because I think that’s only normal, we are too different. I think that once the generation changes, (and Hillary Clinton is PresidentJ) those barriers will all be broken.
Textbook document
1. What do the documents suggest are the most important characteristics of the feminist revival of the 1990s? How is it different from the movement of the 1960s and 1970s?
I think some of the most important characteristics of the feminist revival of the 1990’s was women having freedom over their own “arena of sexuality” (665), also for all women of color and culture to be free of mind to say and do as they please. “A central characteristics of the redefinition is the insistence that feminism acknowledge the multiple identities of women” and without paying any attention to race, class, or sex (666). All of these set backs had to be fixed so that people could have their equal rights. I think that the difference from this and the movement of the 60’s and the 70’s is modern feminists are making it better for the young generation in the sense that they have more freedom, but women faced problems with this (harassment).
2. Do the documents offer compelling reasons for young women to identify with the term “feminism”?
Yes, because the documents show the importance of feminism and what that has done for women’s history. It shows young women how important it is something that helped women take a stand and make a difference in a lot of people’s lives. These feminists changed the way that women are being treated today and a lot of people fought in movements to get where they are today.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Sunday, November 11, 2007
blog # 11
1. In a way you could call a woman in the 1920’s a “New Woman” because the roles had slightly changed. Women were working more and had more responsibility. In a way they changed and were considered to play more significant roles. ”Contemporaries in the 1920’s either celebrated or condemned what was widely viewed as a female sexual revolution” (493). . Women were using high tech appliances that they had never seen before, and they were introduced to different things such as perfume and cosmetics to indulge themselves. Women were changing a lot in the way they looked and acted. Also the idea of female sexuality was being increased and women were acting more independent and free. This all was a newer and more modern version of what women became.
2. During the 1920’s things were changing for women in politics, “women from all groups were now prepared to make women’s votes count” (482). White women formed the League of Women Voters in which they educated others about politics and tried to teach other women had to be the right citizens. However they were having problems because “before national suffrage was achieved a great many women equally excluded form this basic right of citizenship” (483). Women were more interested in less important things than politics which stood in the way. Class and gender was a big problem because African American women separated from the White women. They felt that the White women were not supporting them, therefore there was a separation.
3. The picture on page 499 is actually very sad. There is so much struggle and sadness coming through this woman’s eyes that you know she is going through a difficult time in her life. She has both of her children on her shoulders, and it looks like they are crying. The great depression was a horrible time for people. It says that this family had been “living on frozen vegetables and birds that the children killed” (499). It seems as though this woman is struggling to do whatever she can for her families survival. People did whatever they can to find some food and feed their children during this difficult time.
4. In the beginning of the World War women did not have any rights to work. Then in mid-1942, when the men got drafted, new opportunities started opening up for female war workers. Women became a big part of the war because they were being used for propaganda campaigns such as “The More Women at Work the Sooner We’ll Win” (page 510). “Women responded eagerly to expanded job opportunities, not just in defense industries but in other sectors of the economy as well. (510). Women were now seen as more important in society and it seems as the stereotype for females was beginning to change. And the “defense work did improve women’s economic situation” (510). However it was not the same for African American women. People did not want to hire black women until they were very desperate for a worker. There was mixed feelings about everyone. People began hiring Chinese women, since their main enemies were Japanese people, they had no problems with Chinese. As for Mexican American people, they had a big advantage because since people were so desperate for workers, they did not care if people were legal or not in the country. Women worked a lot during the war, but once it ended that did not last long. “Surveys of women working during the war indicated that a significant number had hoped to continue to work outside the home after the war” (517). But that wasn’t the case because they were mostly laid off.
2. During the 1920’s things were changing for women in politics, “women from all groups were now prepared to make women’s votes count” (482). White women formed the League of Women Voters in which they educated others about politics and tried to teach other women had to be the right citizens. However they were having problems because “before national suffrage was achieved a great many women equally excluded form this basic right of citizenship” (483). Women were more interested in less important things than politics which stood in the way. Class and gender was a big problem because African American women separated from the White women. They felt that the White women were not supporting them, therefore there was a separation.
3. The picture on page 499 is actually very sad. There is so much struggle and sadness coming through this woman’s eyes that you know she is going through a difficult time in her life. She has both of her children on her shoulders, and it looks like they are crying. The great depression was a horrible time for people. It says that this family had been “living on frozen vegetables and birds that the children killed” (499). It seems as though this woman is struggling to do whatever she can for her families survival. People did whatever they can to find some food and feed their children during this difficult time.
4. In the beginning of the World War women did not have any rights to work. Then in mid-1942, when the men got drafted, new opportunities started opening up for female war workers. Women became a big part of the war because they were being used for propaganda campaigns such as “The More Women at Work the Sooner We’ll Win” (page 510). “Women responded eagerly to expanded job opportunities, not just in defense industries but in other sectors of the economy as well. (510). Women were now seen as more important in society and it seems as the stereotype for females was beginning to change. And the “defense work did improve women’s economic situation” (510). However it was not the same for African American women. People did not want to hire black women until they were very desperate for a worker. There was mixed feelings about everyone. People began hiring Chinese women, since their main enemies were Japanese people, they had no problems with Chinese. As for Mexican American people, they had a big advantage because since people were so desperate for workers, they did not care if people were legal or not in the country. Women worked a lot during the war, but once it ended that did not last long. “Surveys of women working during the war indicated that a significant number had hoped to continue to work outside the home after the war” (517). But that wasn’t the case because they were mostly laid off.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Blog # 10
1. How did African American women approach the issues of reform and suffrage?
During this time, African American women were treated differently because people were prejudice against them. They were not involved in many of the things that others were, causing them to be separated. White women were allowed to have education, while African American women did not have that right. “New areas of women’s paid work were beginning to emerge in the early twentieth century” (Pg 408). However, they fought back and made different organizations to become just as successful as the whites. For example, there were female clubs that allowed them to teach and educate them themselves and their children. Soon black women became doctors, nurses (in particular) and held normal jobs like everyone else. One woman by the name of Madam C.J. Walker “built an immensely successful hair care and cosmetics business” allowing other women to work for her and make some money (pg. 424). Even though the NAWSA tried to hold them back from a lot, they didn’t give up and continued to be successful. Walker was also a provider to the National Association for the Advanced of Colored People’s antilynching organization (pg 24). These poor African American women had gotten so much trouble from a number of different organizations, from the AFL to the WTUL, but that never stopped them from being successful.
2. What were the main differences between the emerging feminist movement and the suffrage movement?
To start off, both the feminist movement and the suffrage movement worked towards women trying to gain some kind of freedom, or to prove a point against their gender. Since women were not able to vote and do a lot of the things that men were, the suffrage movement took place. This was a group of educated women who fought for the sake of politics and involvement in that area. However, the feminist movement was a little bit different. Feminists were basically women who thought that they were being treated different just because they are females. “Feminist ideas in the early twentieth century created a fervor of excitement among young women eager to challenge the gender role” (Page 434). This was about things such as “sexual restraint by insisting that women had sexual desires as well as maternal capacities” (page 435). These women were trying to prove that everything is about men and that things such as birth control were not being used effectively. Women wanted to have “greater amounts of sexual intercourse freed of the threat of pregnancy” (page 435). I think that if it wasn’t for these brave women who fought for all of this, the lives for women nowadays would be very difficult.
Textbook document
1.What were the various definitions of feminism according “Talks of Feminism.”?
“Many definitions of feminism were given, differing in details, but agreeing in the essential fact that the movement sought freedom for women” (page 460). Some women said that feminism was more of a fight or a form of fun. I think that the main answer to this is that women should have the same rights as men and be treated the same. That is why the idea of feminism started in the first place right? I really agree with the comment that it “means that woman want to develop her own womanhood (pg 460) and just have the right to do the same humanly things as men. Everyone had something different to say which all pretty much lead to the issue of inequality, whether it was for womanhod or education.
2. What role does women’s economic independence play in feminist thought?
Women’s economic independence is veryy important. The reason for this is because women now are not dependent on their husbands. Most women are strong and knowledgeable to survive on their own if needed. Now men and women are looked upon more equally because a lot of women are more successful than their spouse. And also women don’t need to be objects anymore, and don’t need to turn to prostitution for money. Even a female that comes from a family with no money, there are still opportunities through education and can still have a chance to live normally.
2. What is your own definition of feminism?
My own definition of feminism is just the idea that women are called a “feminist” because they want to be treated exactly like men, and no different. However in a world like this, we will always be differentiated somehow. Women just want to have the same power and be looked at the same way as a man. For instance in a job, you want to be treated just as seriously with important issues as a man. Females have become so powerful and independent that now a woman does not need a man to survive. I think feminism is a very STRONG word and it represents that strength in women that we all have. No woman likes to feel any less than a man or be treated any less.
During this time, African American women were treated differently because people were prejudice against them. They were not involved in many of the things that others were, causing them to be separated. White women were allowed to have education, while African American women did not have that right. “New areas of women’s paid work were beginning to emerge in the early twentieth century” (Pg 408). However, they fought back and made different organizations to become just as successful as the whites. For example, there were female clubs that allowed them to teach and educate them themselves and their children. Soon black women became doctors, nurses (in particular) and held normal jobs like everyone else. One woman by the name of Madam C.J. Walker “built an immensely successful hair care and cosmetics business” allowing other women to work for her and make some money (pg. 424). Even though the NAWSA tried to hold them back from a lot, they didn’t give up and continued to be successful. Walker was also a provider to the National Association for the Advanced of Colored People’s antilynching organization (pg 24). These poor African American women had gotten so much trouble from a number of different organizations, from the AFL to the WTUL, but that never stopped them from being successful.
2. What were the main differences between the emerging feminist movement and the suffrage movement?
To start off, both the feminist movement and the suffrage movement worked towards women trying to gain some kind of freedom, or to prove a point against their gender. Since women were not able to vote and do a lot of the things that men were, the suffrage movement took place. This was a group of educated women who fought for the sake of politics and involvement in that area. However, the feminist movement was a little bit different. Feminists were basically women who thought that they were being treated different just because they are females. “Feminist ideas in the early twentieth century created a fervor of excitement among young women eager to challenge the gender role” (Page 434). This was about things such as “sexual restraint by insisting that women had sexual desires as well as maternal capacities” (page 435). These women were trying to prove that everything is about men and that things such as birth control were not being used effectively. Women wanted to have “greater amounts of sexual intercourse freed of the threat of pregnancy” (page 435). I think that if it wasn’t for these brave women who fought for all of this, the lives for women nowadays would be very difficult.
Textbook document
1.What were the various definitions of feminism according “Talks of Feminism.”?
“Many definitions of feminism were given, differing in details, but agreeing in the essential fact that the movement sought freedom for women” (page 460). Some women said that feminism was more of a fight or a form of fun. I think that the main answer to this is that women should have the same rights as men and be treated the same. That is why the idea of feminism started in the first place right? I really agree with the comment that it “means that woman want to develop her own womanhood (pg 460) and just have the right to do the same humanly things as men. Everyone had something different to say which all pretty much lead to the issue of inequality, whether it was for womanhod or education.
2. What role does women’s economic independence play in feminist thought?
Women’s economic independence is veryy important. The reason for this is because women now are not dependent on their husbands. Most women are strong and knowledgeable to survive on their own if needed. Now men and women are looked upon more equally because a lot of women are more successful than their spouse. And also women don’t need to be objects anymore, and don’t need to turn to prostitution for money. Even a female that comes from a family with no money, there are still opportunities through education and can still have a chance to live normally.
2. What is your own definition of feminism?
My own definition of feminism is just the idea that women are called a “feminist” because they want to be treated exactly like men, and no different. However in a world like this, we will always be differentiated somehow. Women just want to have the same power and be looked at the same way as a man. For instance in a job, you want to be treated just as seriously with important issues as a man. Females have become so powerful and independent that now a woman does not need a man to survive. I think feminism is a very STRONG word and it represents that strength in women that we all have. No woman likes to feel any less than a man or be treated any less.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Blog #9
1.) Women and men both had different experiences. “Women decided to leave their homelands and come to the United States for many reasons, some of which they shared with men” (354). People thought that there was a lot of opportunities for jobs in the U.S. and they needed help. People were faced with many issues such as poverty, no opportunities, and poor lives. People that that if they went to America they would become rich and have a better life. Women had their own reasons why they wanted to move and they all did it in different ways. Women wanted to be independent and make their own money. “Southern Italian girls whose families could not provide them with cash dowries immigrated so that they could wed without dowries” (354). This was the case for many women because they wanted to find a man who was financially stable and could take care of them. The Japanese men went back to Japan to find women to marry and they knew each other through photographs and letters. This was called “Shaskin kekkon”. Also women led to prostitution. It was a difficult time for women, and during this time men worked and try to fit in with the Americans to make some money. American men looked at the immigrants as a threat because there were so many of them. The men were just trying to make money for their families to survive.
2.) Everyone basically tried to fight for their own rights in different ways. The industrial protest was for people who were trying to get normal working conditions and fair pay. The populist movement was for women to get equality in their jobs. Since men were being paid more for doing the same job. And also it was about the people who were considered to be poor and need help. Women were very active in the populist movement, they all stuck together. Women who had money and were more a part of the upper class helped with out others during this time and with this they finally got their political power. Houses were also being built to help immigrant women. This was to help the children understand how Americans are and understand more about their culture. These were two different battles, but both fighting for rights.
Textbook:
1.) Adam’s experience was basically about living in a poor area surrounded by people who were all in the same situation. She realized that everyone (neighbors) tried to help each other out because they were all going through the same thing. It was a hard time for people and they all reached out to each other. She says that “the fact that the economic conditions of all alike is on the most precarious level makes the ready outflow of sympathy and material assistance the most natural thing in the world” (382). This was a big help because everyone was trying to survive and making a little money for their families. The problem was that the poor people understood the way that the wealthy people live and sometimes people look their dignity and kindness because of that. People sometimes only care about money when they are in situations like this because they are desperate. People can turn their backs on those who need help to save themselves and their own families.
2.) When Adam’s became a member of the path breaking generation of women college graduatate, her outlook on things really changed. I think she understood more about the people around her. She actually became a stronger person and decided to take action, by being a part of the activists. She was concerned about education and she really wanted to make a difference for people who needed help. She became a powerful leader for women and fought for things she believes in to pass laws and make some changes that she didn’t agree with. She changed as a person for the better.
2.) Everyone basically tried to fight for their own rights in different ways. The industrial protest was for people who were trying to get normal working conditions and fair pay. The populist movement was for women to get equality in their jobs. Since men were being paid more for doing the same job. And also it was about the people who were considered to be poor and need help. Women were very active in the populist movement, they all stuck together. Women who had money and were more a part of the upper class helped with out others during this time and with this they finally got their political power. Houses were also being built to help immigrant women. This was to help the children understand how Americans are and understand more about their culture. These were two different battles, but both fighting for rights.
Textbook:
1.) Adam’s experience was basically about living in a poor area surrounded by people who were all in the same situation. She realized that everyone (neighbors) tried to help each other out because they were all going through the same thing. It was a hard time for people and they all reached out to each other. She says that “the fact that the economic conditions of all alike is on the most precarious level makes the ready outflow of sympathy and material assistance the most natural thing in the world” (382). This was a big help because everyone was trying to survive and making a little money for their families. The problem was that the poor people understood the way that the wealthy people live and sometimes people look their dignity and kindness because of that. People sometimes only care about money when they are in situations like this because they are desperate. People can turn their backs on those who need help to save themselves and their own families.
2.) When Adam’s became a member of the path breaking generation of women college graduatate, her outlook on things really changed. I think she understood more about the people around her. She actually became a stronger person and decided to take action, by being a part of the activists. She was concerned about education and she really wanted to make a difference for people who needed help. She became a powerful leader for women and fought for things she believes in to pass laws and make some changes that she didn’t agree with. She changed as a person for the better.
Monday, October 22, 2007
blog # 8
1. “The growth of the female labor force was an important part of this development, and flew in the face of the still-strong presumption that women belonged exclusively in their homes” (Page 283). Things began to change once there was a growth in jobs and the introduction of better things for women. “Domestic service” was what really helped women out, because they worked in sweat shops and even office work (Page 283). In fact as years went by more women became more active in the labor force. This did however cause a conflict between the different groups or classes of people. For example, white women did different jobs from African Americans. Southern black women were more involved in the agricultural jobs, earning lower wages. Most of the women working were not married, but were to work enough to make their own money, and then get married. The middle and upper class women had enough money to have their own servants to do the domestic jobs. The working class was just women trying to make a little bit of extra money, and grow to be independent.
2. The two images are very interesting. The one on the left looks like two little Native American girls, not from a family who has too much money. The picture on the right looks like the native girls are from an upper class family because they are better dressed and groomed. However it looks like the little girls on the right side are more Americanized, they are not wearing their traditional clothing or anything. Therefore, one picture shows how natives were, and what they became after the “Americanization”.
Textbook:
1. Bessie Van Vorst experiences different thing sin the factory. She shows how it is a difficult and tiresome job “Bessie explored how different it felt to work for a present daily wage and to work for payment by the piece-an arrangement that led workers to drive them to work faster” (Page 311). She described the difficult things they had to go while working at these jobs, and how it changed her. She meets different girls while working at the factory, everyone with a different personality. “Bessie came to appreciate the generosity of her coworkers, the pleasures of collective work, and the “practical, progressive” democracy of working-class life” (Page 312).
2. Van Vorst definitely thinks that things are much easier on men than they are for women. Since men were actually paid more than women, I guess that made a big difference too. I think women overall were just very excited to finally be able to hold jobs and make any money at all. She talks about how men were treated better than the women. She talks about three separate women as the breadwinner, the semi-breadwinner and those who live a comfortable luxurious life. I just think that women were fairly grateful, despite the differences and were happy to have a job. The men had to work to put food on the table, and the women worked for other reasons. Whatever the reason was, I think that it is hard to say if women should or not stand up for themselves because just owning a job was such a advantage for them.
2. The two images are very interesting. The one on the left looks like two little Native American girls, not from a family who has too much money. The picture on the right looks like the native girls are from an upper class family because they are better dressed and groomed. However it looks like the little girls on the right side are more Americanized, they are not wearing their traditional clothing or anything. Therefore, one picture shows how natives were, and what they became after the “Americanization”.
Textbook:
1. Bessie Van Vorst experiences different thing sin the factory. She shows how it is a difficult and tiresome job “Bessie explored how different it felt to work for a present daily wage and to work for payment by the piece-an arrangement that led workers to drive them to work faster” (Page 311). She described the difficult things they had to go while working at these jobs, and how it changed her. She meets different girls while working at the factory, everyone with a different personality. “Bessie came to appreciate the generosity of her coworkers, the pleasures of collective work, and the “practical, progressive” democracy of working-class life” (Page 312).
2. Van Vorst definitely thinks that things are much easier on men than they are for women. Since men were actually paid more than women, I guess that made a big difference too. I think women overall were just very excited to finally be able to hold jobs and make any money at all. She talks about how men were treated better than the women. She talks about three separate women as the breadwinner, the semi-breadwinner and those who live a comfortable luxurious life. I just think that women were fairly grateful, despite the differences and were happy to have a job. The men had to work to put food on the table, and the women worked for other reasons. Whatever the reason was, I think that it is hard to say if women should or not stand up for themselves because just owning a job was such a advantage for them.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
blog #7
1. During this time women had no say in things, they could not participate in the war in any way. They were not allowed to vote and had no choices. Class Divisions were a problem and also “labor and capital overtook the inequalities of race as the most overt challenge to America’s national unity” (Page 271). Women in a way stood beside each other because they were all going through the same thing. In the North, some women decided to get political rights from the men, “and the woman suffrage movement came into its own” (Page 271). There was a division between the women in the North and South because slaves were trying to gain freedom and people were agreeing to this issue. When there was a separation of states due to the slaves, the women in the South and North did not agree.
2. The “New South” was a great time for black women because they were finally free to do as they please, and choose their own jobs. This had a big impact on their lives. “Black women fought for control over their labor” while “elite white women sought new capacities and strengths to accommodate” (Page 277). This was a good and a bad time, depending on whose point of view you are looking at. For the slaves, it was a huge change in their lives; they were no longer property and could live their lives. But for the whites, they had nobody to do the duties that the slaves did in their homes, which was a problem for them. In fact, if they wanted to have a slave in their home, they had to pay them for the work done. “The complex result of these post-Reconstruction social, political, and economic changes was known as “the New South” (page 277).
Textbook Document:
1. The large conflict that led to the lynching of Thomas Moss was basically that his grocery store was affecting the business of a white man’s store, which was a problem. “Moss’s crime had been the competition that his successful grocery business poses to whites” (Page 306). This is such a shame because he Moss was only doing his job, which seemed to be a threat to the white man. This showed a lot about how there were conflicts among the blacks and whites “after the end of slavery’ (page 307). When Moss opened his grocery store, it was considered to be a “crime” to the whites, and therefore the white mobs lynched him.
2. The opinion about Wells being lynched was that it was an act of rape. “Although lynching was irregular and contrary to law and order, unreasoning anger over the terrible crime of rape led to the lynching” (Page 308). This was a way for the whites to get back at the blacks and take out their anger on them. The white’s were fairly angry that they did not have any power over the blacks and this in a way was like revenge. This was to let everyone know that it was not allowed for a black to have sex with a white woman and that they would be accused of rape if they even tried to. The white men did not accept the blacks and tried to make it hard on them as much as possible.
3. Wells did not agree with this relationship and thought that it was wrong. This is discriminating against the blacks because if a black woman was raped, then it was not a big deal. On the other hand if a white woman was raped, then that was a crime that needed punishment. Wells saw this as a way for white men to take out their anger on the blacks, since they had their freedom now. White men thought that it was okay to rape a black woman, but it was not okay for a black man to rape a white woman. It is the same crime, but the whites denied it. This was a ridiculous concept that Wells definitely did not agree with.
2. The “New South” was a great time for black women because they were finally free to do as they please, and choose their own jobs. This had a big impact on their lives. “Black women fought for control over their labor” while “elite white women sought new capacities and strengths to accommodate” (Page 277). This was a good and a bad time, depending on whose point of view you are looking at. For the slaves, it was a huge change in their lives; they were no longer property and could live their lives. But for the whites, they had nobody to do the duties that the slaves did in their homes, which was a problem for them. In fact, if they wanted to have a slave in their home, they had to pay them for the work done. “The complex result of these post-Reconstruction social, political, and economic changes was known as “the New South” (page 277).
Textbook Document:
1. The large conflict that led to the lynching of Thomas Moss was basically that his grocery store was affecting the business of a white man’s store, which was a problem. “Moss’s crime had been the competition that his successful grocery business poses to whites” (Page 306). This is such a shame because he Moss was only doing his job, which seemed to be a threat to the white man. This showed a lot about how there were conflicts among the blacks and whites “after the end of slavery’ (page 307). When Moss opened his grocery store, it was considered to be a “crime” to the whites, and therefore the white mobs lynched him.
2. The opinion about Wells being lynched was that it was an act of rape. “Although lynching was irregular and contrary to law and order, unreasoning anger over the terrible crime of rape led to the lynching” (Page 308). This was a way for the whites to get back at the blacks and take out their anger on them. The white’s were fairly angry that they did not have any power over the blacks and this in a way was like revenge. This was to let everyone know that it was not allowed for a black to have sex with a white woman and that they would be accused of rape if they even tried to. The white men did not accept the blacks and tried to make it hard on them as much as possible.
3. Wells did not agree with this relationship and thought that it was wrong. This is discriminating against the blacks because if a black woman was raped, then it was not a big deal. On the other hand if a white woman was raped, then that was a crime that needed punishment. Wells saw this as a way for white men to take out their anger on the blacks, since they had their freedom now. White men thought that it was okay to rape a black woman, but it was not okay for a black man to rape a white woman. It is the same crime, but the whites denied it. This was a ridiculous concept that Wells definitely did not agree with.
Monday, October 8, 2007
blog # 6
1.First there was the Treaty of Guadalupe, which was the war between the United States against Mexico. The U.S. ended up taking California and New Mexico away from them, causing a lot of negative changes to occur. People had to adjust to being under new rule, and Indian women eventually had to become servants for the white’s. This is because they had pretty much lost everything they owned, such as property. There were less Indian women than before and this is because when their land was dominated, a lot of the Indian women were killed. This was a very difficult time for them because a lot of these poor people were being killed, to open up new space for the white people who were going to arrive.
“Tens of thousands of land hungry American women and men crossed the central plains to settle on the Pacific Coast” (page 203). The Indian women were not the only ones who struggled during this time. The discovery of gold was why this “migration” occurred. In 1842, the journey began, where thousands of Americans migrated. Women faced problems with their children’s responsibilities. Some problems began when diverse women had conflicts amongst each other. Throughout this long period of time, women still had to cook, do laundry, take care of their children and even give birth. Many women wanted to head back and couldn’t take it anymore, “a woman on the trail was so determined to turn back that she set the family’s wagon on fire” (age 205). Men made all of the decisions and the women didn’t have a say. Women sometimes did the mans job too, by helping them drive the wagons. This was significant because they tried to prove to men that they can do their job too. It was very difficult for a lot of women, who had small children with them, and pregnancy was very difficult during this time, and some even died before giving birth.
2. The Gold Rush, the discovery of gold really “accelerated the Americanization of California” (page 210). Most of the gold finders were men. During the antebellum years, women played an important role. They were very active in the “benevolent and reforming societies in these years” (page 213). Women were involved in religious activities; such as supporting “male missionaries in bringing Christianity to the unconverted at home” (page 213). They even made their own groups in which they were involved in the economy and helped out orphans. At this time men became destructive and started to cause an unhappy environment inside of the homes. Women found a way to make themselves happier through religion and forming organizations. Women also did a lot to help out prostitutes. They raised money to stop these women from performing these acts. There were different groups of people such as “Shakers” who told people not to have sex at all, because it would cause more wrong things in their life. Women really proved themselves during this time and showed men that they were capable of doing a lot. They actually made a difference and helped a lot of people. Women even took a stand against slavery, by having people sign petitions against slavery to end it once and for all. In the end, they got a wonderful reward; they helped with the 13th amendment to end slavery in the United States. Clearly these women took a stand and made a great change in society.
Textbook:
1. Maria was very brave when the Lieutenant and his people barged into her room with a gun. She was very brave because she told them straight out that she was not scared of anything and told them to go back because they weren’t welcome to rest in her home. Maria did not know if they had found Chaves or not so she was trying to play it cool. This really says a lot about her character because most people that see a weapon usually are too scared to even talk. Her main fear was that she didn’t want to be a part of something destructive because they think he is hiding in her house. Also she did everything to help out her husband no matter what. There was nobody by her side, but she stayed strong and did what she thought was right. She was obviously a person who loved people and would do anything to help a person out.
Maria’s main source of strength is her personality and independence. She basically lives by herself most of the time and she is on her own. She takes care of everything herself. Since her husband is not by her side, she needs to be even stronger and make hard decisions in her life. The fact that she’s in danger because of Chaves, it seems like she doesn’t let her guard down so that nobody can hurt her. I think that Maria is actually afraid of a lot of things but doesn’t ever show that to people.
“Tens of thousands of land hungry American women and men crossed the central plains to settle on the Pacific Coast” (page 203). The Indian women were not the only ones who struggled during this time. The discovery of gold was why this “migration” occurred. In 1842, the journey began, where thousands of Americans migrated. Women faced problems with their children’s responsibilities. Some problems began when diverse women had conflicts amongst each other. Throughout this long period of time, women still had to cook, do laundry, take care of their children and even give birth. Many women wanted to head back and couldn’t take it anymore, “a woman on the trail was so determined to turn back that she set the family’s wagon on fire” (age 205). Men made all of the decisions and the women didn’t have a say. Women sometimes did the mans job too, by helping them drive the wagons. This was significant because they tried to prove to men that they can do their job too. It was very difficult for a lot of women, who had small children with them, and pregnancy was very difficult during this time, and some even died before giving birth.
2. The Gold Rush, the discovery of gold really “accelerated the Americanization of California” (page 210). Most of the gold finders were men. During the antebellum years, women played an important role. They were very active in the “benevolent and reforming societies in these years” (page 213). Women were involved in religious activities; such as supporting “male missionaries in bringing Christianity to the unconverted at home” (page 213). They even made their own groups in which they were involved in the economy and helped out orphans. At this time men became destructive and started to cause an unhappy environment inside of the homes. Women found a way to make themselves happier through religion and forming organizations. Women also did a lot to help out prostitutes. They raised money to stop these women from performing these acts. There were different groups of people such as “Shakers” who told people not to have sex at all, because it would cause more wrong things in their life. Women really proved themselves during this time and showed men that they were capable of doing a lot. They actually made a difference and helped a lot of people. Women even took a stand against slavery, by having people sign petitions against slavery to end it once and for all. In the end, they got a wonderful reward; they helped with the 13th amendment to end slavery in the United States. Clearly these women took a stand and made a great change in society.
Textbook:
1. Maria was very brave when the Lieutenant and his people barged into her room with a gun. She was very brave because she told them straight out that she was not scared of anything and told them to go back because they weren’t welcome to rest in her home. Maria did not know if they had found Chaves or not so she was trying to play it cool. This really says a lot about her character because most people that see a weapon usually are too scared to even talk. Her main fear was that she didn’t want to be a part of something destructive because they think he is hiding in her house. Also she did everything to help out her husband no matter what. There was nobody by her side, but she stayed strong and did what she thought was right. She was obviously a person who loved people and would do anything to help a person out.
Maria’s main source of strength is her personality and independence. She basically lives by herself most of the time and she is on her own. She takes care of everything herself. Since her husband is not by her side, she needs to be even stronger and make hard decisions in her life. The fact that she’s in danger because of Chaves, it seems like she doesn’t let her guard down so that nobody can hurt her. I think that Maria is actually afraid of a lot of things but doesn’t ever show that to people.
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