Originally Posted By TomSawyer 80 years ago today, the 19th Amendment was ratified and American women were allowed to have a voice in their government for the first time. There are 5 million women living in the United States that were born in a country that didn't recognize their right to vote. Just thought it was worth noting.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Thanks for sharing Tom. Shame there are still so few that are representing at Congress or the Senate. I do wonder how long it will be until we see a woman president?
Originally Posted By Longhorn12 >woman president< America is kind of lagging behind in this department. I would like to say within the next 20 years, but knowing our Political system I still don't know. A boy's club won't go down without some fight.
Originally Posted By Daannzzz I am surprised the right wing doesn't want to repeal the 19th amendment.
Originally Posted By Longhorn12 >I am surprised the right wing doesn't want to repeal the 19th amendment.< I'm not. If they did where would all of their "If you don't vote us your children will die horrible deaths or get raped" votes come from?
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt It's amazing that it was only 80 years ago. Think of how much political progress women and minorities have made in that relatively short time.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 What's most instructive, I think, is to look at the arguments the opponents of women's suffrage made at the time. It's mostly of the "if this monumental social experiment goes into effect, the damage to our society will be incalculable. It will upset the natural order of things, God's law, and will lead to the destruction of the American family, the very building block of our society." It was all hysteria, of course, but people really believed it - and it was shockingly similar to the rhetoric used to argue against interracial marriage a few decades later, and gay marriage today. Also interesting is how many people dismissed it as simply "foolishness" (those silly women actually wanting to vote!) and how many women themselves bought into the notion of their "proper place" and argued against their own equal rights.
Originally Posted By Princessjenn5795 Here is a story about the ratification of the 19th amendment that I have always loved. All I can say is "Way to go Harry Burns's mom!" Because one guy listened to his mother, women have the right to vote. It is pretty cool. <a href="http://www.blueshoenashville.com/suffragehistory.html" target="_blank">http://www.blueshoenashville.c...ory.html</a>
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance It's crazy to think how different life was for minorities and women back when my parents were growing up than it is now for my kids growing up. We still have a ways to go, but you can't deny the progress!
