Women's Right

Most women today in our country have equal rights as any man. At the same time there are other countries where women are still being treated differently because of their gender. Over time a number of determined and dedicated women, things did change. While women once had few life options beyond isolation in the domestic sphere, some historical developments presented new opportunities for women in society such as their duties, education, work, voice and even dress.

A women's role, expectations, and duties in America during the 1920's was to look after their household. Advertisements suggested women's greatest achievements was a satisfied husband, clean children, and delicacy in all matters of personal grooming (Gourley, 2008). Women lead the life that was common for that time and era; it would be a problem for most women today. However, at that time, that was the standard and it stayed that way for some time. In the 1920's particularly, women seemed to be taking over the ways of behavior, manners of dress, and standards of conduct that men had previously reserved for themselves (West, 1955). Women today have it easy, we are able to speak our mind, and we have the opportunity to do anything that we wish. The 1920's was an era in which a new morality swept across the country fueled by modern expressions of sexuality and the metallization of redefined gender responsibility for what came to be called the New Woman (Bowers, 2010).

Women and their children seemed to be owned by the father and husband. The laws brought over from Great Britain, seemed to be the reason for these laws. Women did not have any property rights and once she was married, she was no longer allowed to own land, could not keep the money she earned for herself and was not allowed the care and control of her children. A man was able to sell the family farm, take all the money for himself, and leave his wife and children behind with nothing. Also, if a man died without writing a will, his wife was not able to inherit anything, including any of the money she may have earned herself, or the land she had owned before her marriage.

The Women's Rights Movement, helped women throughout the country by passing laws stating that women could in fact own part of her husband's estate. In Alberta, the Dower Act was passed in the early 1900's, giving women the legal right to one third of her husband's estate during his life, and after his death. In 1922, married women in Alberta were finally given the right to own property in her own name. Emily Murphy was the woman behind these new laws in Alberta. The 1920's were a giant stepping stone for women. This right to own property, made women everywhere know that they were able to do things without a husband to depend on. It gave them strength, which women still find today.

One of the most important resolutions contained within the document was a demand for equal voting