Basic Gist
By Srivi Vishnubhotla
Since the emergence of First Wave civilizations, women have always been subordinate to men in such patriarchal societies. As time progressed, so did women’s roles in society. The rights that women gained, however, were only limited to upper class women. It was not until the 20th century that women of all classes began the campaign to gain equal rights.
The many revolutions that wreaked havoc in multiple countries during the 20th century gave women the chance to finally gain the rights they deserved for so long. By participating in revolutions in places such as Russia, China, Cuba, and Iran, women were able to show the rest of the world that they were just as, if not more than, capable to complete the same tasks that were originally appointed to men. Women’s roles in each of the revolutions varied from region to region.
In places such as Russia and Cuba, women were able to gain rights such as working in the work force with equal pay, work as attorneys, and gain government positions in the House of Representatives and Senate. Due to the introduction of women in government positions also formed different organizations to help and protect women’s rights, such as the Federation of Cuban Women in Cuba and a whole day dedicated to the women who fought in the Russian revolution, named “International Women’s Day”. It was during these two revolutions that women of all classes came together to fight under a common cause.
In other regions, such as Iran and China, women gained similar rights. After the formation of new governments, the rights that women worked hard for during the revolutions were slowly, but surely, taken away. In China, women’s right to work in the workforce was taken away due to hostility and animosity of men. Chinese women’s rights to divorce her husband ultimately lead to an increase in women deaths. Men of lower classes in particular, resorted to selling their daughters in big cities in order to make money, seeing as there was a significant decrease of jobs due to the large number of women working. In order to protect women, the Chinese government revoked a majority of women’s rights. The situation in Iran was very similar to that of China. Promises of making man and woman equal by revolutionary leaders gave women an incentive to help in the revolution. After the establishment of a new government, the rights that women received, such as education, were severely limited, despite the promises made during the revolution itself.
The many revolutions that wreaked havoc in multiple countries during the 20th century gave women the chance to finally gain the rights they deserved for so long. By participating in revolutions in places such as Russia, China, Cuba, and Iran, women were able to show the rest of the world that they were just as, if not more than, capable to complete the same tasks that were originally appointed to men. Women’s roles in each of the revolutions varied from region to region.
In places such as Russia and Cuba, women were able to gain rights such as working in the work force with equal pay, work as attorneys, and gain government positions in the House of Representatives and Senate. Due to the introduction of women in government positions also formed different organizations to help and protect women’s rights, such as the Federation of Cuban Women in Cuba and a whole day dedicated to the women who fought in the Russian revolution, named “International Women’s Day”. It was during these two revolutions that women of all classes came together to fight under a common cause.
In other regions, such as Iran and China, women gained similar rights. After the formation of new governments, the rights that women worked hard for during the revolutions were slowly, but surely, taken away. In China, women’s right to work in the workforce was taken away due to hostility and animosity of men. Chinese women’s rights to divorce her husband ultimately lead to an increase in women deaths. Men of lower classes in particular, resorted to selling their daughters in big cities in order to make money, seeing as there was a significant decrease of jobs due to the large number of women working. In order to protect women, the Chinese government revoked a majority of women’s rights. The situation in Iran was very similar to that of China. Promises of making man and woman equal by revolutionary leaders gave women an incentive to help in the revolution. After the establishment of a new government, the rights that women received, such as education, were severely limited, despite the promises made during the revolution itself.
