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How would life today be different if women were the dominant sex?
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United States

History

Women in North America before European colonization lived differently depending on which tribe they belonged to, but generally women and men each had separate places in society and it was understood that both sexes were essential parts of life.

Europeans, when they arrived, had a much different view of women. Women, while necessary for the continuation of the colonies and instrumental in taking care of the household, were considered pretty much property. Their husbands or fathers owned everything of theirs, even the children. Women were expected to help out on family farms, and girls were expected to marry young and raise a family. It was considered unladylike for women to involve themselves in politics. Girls, if they even attended school, only went for a few years to learn basic reading and writing. Women were socially required to wear long dresses which covered their wrists and ankles. If free women wished or needed to have jobs outside of the home, they could be teachers or housemaids, unless they were married. Some women did break these restrictions and got more advanced jobs or higher education, but these standards were pretty much intact through the mid 1800s.

In 1776, Abigail Adams wrote to her husband at Independence hall, saying ‘Remember the ladies.’ Her advice was not heeded, for women did not gain rights after the revolution. (New Jersey allowed women to vote in the 1800 presidential election, but soon reversed that law) Women involved themselves in the revolution by taking control of homesteads while their husbands fought, helping wounded soldiers, working as spies, and sometimes even fighting.

Middle and upper class girls in the early 1800s began going to school more and even continuing in women’s academies after primary school. Women were first admitted into college in the mid 1830s. Women, now more educated, began to involve themselves in society, forming charitable organizations and organizations to protest alcohol and slavery. In 1848, the women’s rights movement officially began with the Seneca Falls Convention, organized by Elisabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott. The Declaration of Sentiments, written there and modeled after the Declaration of Independence, stated “We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men and women are created equal.” Susan B. Anthony, Lucy Stone, and many others joined in the movement. Women in the western colonies needed to be strong functioning parts of society for the new towns there to survive, so they lived more independently in than women in the east, and gained the right to vote much earlier: in Wyoming in 1869 and Utah in 1870. In the east, women pushed hard, hoping for more rights after the abolition of slavery, but they had to continue fighting for many years. The original suffragists did not live to see their dreams realized, but finally in 1920, the United States congress passed the 19th amendment, giving women the right to vote.

Women in the 1700s to mid 1800s generally worked in the household. Then as industrialization spread, many poorer women and girls moved form farms to the cities to work in textile mills and other factories, where they worked long unhealthy hours for almost no pay. During World War I women expanded from their feminine roles, and filled the jobs of many men, but returned to the home at the end of the war. During the depression, Eleanor Roosevelt pushed for equality in the workplace and encouraged her husband to get more women into the government. Women again filled the working niche of men during World War II, but returned to lower paying ‘women’s’ jobs and their housewife lives when the war ended. Then in the 1960s, Americans began to protest and change all sorts of social and legal standards, and women pushed for birth control rights and equal opportunity in employment. The Civil Rights act of 1964 prohibited gender, racial, or religious discrimination. Other acts, such as the Equal Pay Act of 1964 were also passed. Women continued to push for equal rights, birth control rights, and equal opportunity in education and employment.

Present

Politics

Women earned the right to vote in 1920, and today exercise their rights. There has never been a female President or Vice President in the United States. However, Since 1980, women have composed more than half of the voters in presidential elections. About 15% of all representatives and senators are women, and there are 7 female cabinet members, including secretary of state Madeline Albright. Women are becoming increasingly involved in politics. Women and men have equal legal rights from property ownership to child custody. The first woman appointed to the Supreme Court was Sandra Day O’Connor in 1981.

Society

Women are still considered the main caretakers of the home, but now many men are taking part in domestic chores and taking care of children. Women are also now working more outside the home, although many work part time to balance family life with work. Women are no longer required to wear certain things, and most parts of society accept them. Women have easy access to birth control measures, and although abortion is a very controversial issue, at the moment it is legal. The government is working to provide more complete health care to all women and to educate women on health issues that can help them live longer healthier lives. Pregnant women are given paid maternity leave. Domestic violence is a problem in the United States, but steps are being taken to combat it.

Economy

In 1964, the Equal Pay Act guaranteed equal pay for women and men doing the same job with the same amount of experience and the Civil Rights Act prohibited gender or racial discrimination in hiring workers. Women can not be denied a job simply because they are women, but it is difficult to determine if that is the real reason why women are sometimes not accepted to jobs. In 1964, the affirmative action was set into place. This order states that large companies that receive federal funds or do business with the government must actively hire women and minorities. There is no set quota for the number of women or minorities a company must have, but this is still a very controversial issue because the required hiring of women or minorities may mean discriminating against white males. California has banned affirmative action. Although there is a law saying that women and men should get paid equal salaries for the same job, there is still a pay gap. However, much of it is due to the fact that women spend more time at home, and less time working. Women are about 50% of the workforce, but only around 5% of these women (1995) are in high, management, or decision making positions. The government, responding to the 1995 Beijing conference, is now working on getting women into high positions and encouraging them to go into business for themselves. Women make up about 14% of the armed forces.

Education

Both girls and boys are required to go to school for 12 years (age 6-18). In 1972, the Title IX act was passed, prohibiting discrimination in education based on sex. As a result of that, girls became involved in many other school activities, including sports. After high school, about 22% of women choose to continue their education in colleges and universities. Most colleges have an almost equal amount of women and men.