Womens Status in Colonial Society Essay Example for Free

Womens Status in Colonial Society Essay For many of the settlers coming to America they, obviously, had formed their own views and beliefs on the world, including the thought on the way of life and what it was intended to be. For most colonists in America they already shared a common opinion about women being inferior. However, the value of women has a slight increase due to scarceness. The status of women in the colonies, the roles women had taken with the religion aspect, and the required daily chores known as â€Å"women’s work† would eventually require a second look into the their contributions. Once many colonists became established and figured out the ways to live and survive in this New World also came forth many formed opinions on what the purpose of women would be in the colonies. John Winthrop insisted that a woman’s role was solely to adhere to her husband, obey his authority and find contentment within this. One Minister even stressed, â€Å"the woman is a weak creature not endowed with like strength and constancy of mind.† (Tindall and Shi 2010, 113) Due to social custom and legal codes women had little to no rights. The few exceptions for women to have any type of right or gain respect were if and only, it seemed, family circumstances required a woman to continue on the family reputation, business, or social standing. An example would be Elizabeth Lucas Pinckney (Tindall and Shi 2010, 114) who was highly educated and left to take care of her family while her father was absent. This led her to be known as Americas most enterprising horticulturist. Religion in the colonial era still had similar views about women within the Puritan denomination. As for Puritans they considered women to be â€Å"weak vessels† and also cited biblical passages that god required â€Å"virtuous† women to submit to male authority and remain silent in congregational matters. (Tindall and Shi 2010, 115) Unlike Quakers, who during this time considered women to be equal to men and allowed women to have a voice within the community. Women were even allowed to preach within the Quaker religion, but with that, no denomination allowed women to be ordained as ministers. It became apparent by the ministers that woman were the mass of the congregation, which worried them and led them to believe that a feminized church was a church in decline. This was argued by a Boston Minister, Cotton Mather (Tindall and Shi 2010, 115) who proclaimed that women were not the weaker of the sex, and that childbirth pain woman endured was not as punishment that woman paid for Eve’s sinfulness, was in part the reason and motivator for women to commit their lives to Christ. Thus showing how he came to this conclusion which was after his observation that there â€Å"are far more Godly women in the world rather than Godly men†. Women’s work in the eighteenth century, as for the same in the world today, never seemed to end. During the colonial time â€Å"women’s work† † included the duties, as some might say, would be to maintain the house, garden and farm. (Tindall and Shi 2010, 117) Other than taking care of the children and men, tending to the garden, cleaning the house and providing three meals for the day, some women went above and beyond their womanly duties. Women also found a way to accumulate the required necessities for living. They would make their own clothing, knit linen and cotton, make quilts, hem sheets, make candles and soap, haul water and they even chopped wood to ensure that they would have their firewood needed to provide a source of warmth when the time came. In the southern colonies, female indentured servants worked as field hands, weeding, hoeing and harvesting. (Tindall and Shi 2010, 117) The lack of men and being able to provide the labor needed in the colonies provided an opportunity for many women, despite the laws and traditional beliefs about woman being inferior or incapable. Due to the scarcity of women and the effects it made on creating instability on high orders in the past, led to laws protecting women. Such laws were created for protection from physical abuse, and permission for divorce. Other laws help maintain control over property they had tended to, property they had earned. While in this era woman played many roles. Showing their strength by doing what was expected and surpassing the â€Å"superior sex† by picking up the slack they always seemed to leave behind. Not only within the colonies, the religious conformity they maintained, or the daily tasks they endured for sake of the house hold, they opened a door, made a statement, by executing what needed to be done. Bibliography Tindall, George, and David Shi. America: A Narrative History. Volume I, 8th Edition. New York: W.W. Norton, 2010.

Anna Quindlen Essay -- essays research papers

Rhetorical Analysis   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Anna Quindlen describes in the essay â€Å"Abortion is too Complex to Feel one Way About† the different situation that we as a human race are put in everyday. She talks about the topic of abortion in a way that one feels they have had to make the decision of whether or not a person is pro-choice or pro-life. She uses references that are of different personal experiences in the essay that are vital to the audience. Quindlen is writing to state her point that one should never put their self in this situation because one should take the proper responsibility. In this paper you will read about the conflict with abortion and what Quindlen thinks about this issue. The author presents an interesting outlook on a volatile issue that has plagued or country for years. She appears to be voicing her opinion in an effort to bring reason and clarity to a confusing and emotional topic. To do this Quindlen uses personal experiences along with practical real life experiences. By using these different types of strategies Quindlen is able to achieve a greater influence over her audience.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The primary purpose portrayed through Quindlen’s writing is the complete and all-encompassing celebration of life. Quindlen is not supporting or denying a women’s right to choose whether or not she should have an abortion. Here we find a sole voice crying out to the masses. Those who have not been placed in such a predicament and are confronted with someone who has seen or experienced both sides of the issue and is seemingly trying to encourage these young people to think wisely about the main issue that is being confronted. Her primary purpose is proven to be true because of the strategies that she uses. Quindlen uses different strategies in her essay to try and persuade her audience. She uses her voice indirectly rather than directly when talking about the personal experience of abortion. At the beginning of the essay she talks about how she was a counselor in a college dormitory. And she says â€Å"it was always the look on their faces that told me first†(627). She has had so many girls come talk to her about the decision that they do not even have to say anything to her any more. With Quindlen being a freshman guidance counselor and witnessing what these girls are experiencing says this causes her to become pro-choic... ...e essay she says â€Å"but I don’t feel all one way about abortion anymore, and I don’t think it serves a just cause to pretend that many of us do†(629). This quote lets the reader identify with it being okay to feel conflicted about abortion. It seems that often people feel they have to choose sides in the abortion debate. However, Quindlen allows her audience to find comfort and acceptance and not really knowing what they would do if ever faced with this decision. She uses a balance of real life examples that she has experienced and witnessed. Most of her examples touch the reader deep down inside so that they are left feeling as if they were a fly on the wall when these things were going on. At the end of the day where has Quindlen left the issue? She leaves it seemingly where it should stay†¦in the heart of those affected by it. This is a personal issue that needs to be taken seriously according to Quindlen. After having lived through many different sides of this issue she appears to still have no one side that she is partial to. She is celebrating life however she shows great empathy and compassion for all who may make a decision to not go ahead with bringing a life into the world.

Women and High Heels

Speaker: Date: Speech Topic: high heel shoes, what effect do they have on women? Specific Purpose: To inform women that even though we love our heels they can be hazardous if not worn in moderation. Introduction I. Women will wear their heels high, no matter the cost. If our wallets don’t suffer, our feet surely will. II. When a woman puts on a pair of heels, she feels sexy and powerful. She knows the men are watching her, and she is the center of attention (even if it’s all in her mind) She will spend her last dime on a beautiful pair of shoes, but did you know that over time those high heels can cause major damage to your feet?What’s so special about high heels, that women would spend their last dime and risk being in pain? I. The advantage of wearing high heels. A. When a woman puts on a pair of heels, she suddenly feels sexy, and confident. Have you ever noticed when you see a lady in a pair of these shoes she walks a little different? B. Her butt lifts a lit tle higher C. Her legs appear to be longer D. Her body appears to be leaner When a woman has nice shoes, not only does she get compliments from men, but other women will come to her and say â€Å"I love your shoes!Where did you get those â€Å" She may reply back â€Å"these old things? She loves the attention but she will never tell where she got them. II. The Price: According to a survey done with 3000 women by ONEPOLL the average woman will spend over 26,000 on shoes in her lifetime. A. 29 percent of ladies say shoes are the one thing they can’t resist buying, regardless of whether they can afford them. B. Not only do women wear shoes to turn heads of men, but we also buy them to be the center of attention around other women C.You can tell a lot about a woman based off her heels, it can be a sign of â€Å"status. † She may feel expensive by sporting a high priced pair of heels. III. The price we pay with our feet: High heel shoes can have a number of detrimental effects on the feet, some that could result in the need for surgery or lifelong pain A. Bunions B. Corns C. Hammer toe: D. Morton's neuroma E. Pump bump There is nothing wrong with wearing your favorite heels but it should be done in moderation. If you are going to happy hour, please don’t wear your heels to class, work and then happy hour.The effect over years can be very damaging to your body. Conclusion I. Review: a woman in a pair of heels can feel like she is the center of attention. She is sexy and confident; her body looks great and she feels like a diva entering a room. She does not mind paying a high price for her favorite pair of heels, even if they hurt her feet after a few hours. The average woman may spend more than 26 thousand dollars in her life time on shoes alone, but if she is not careful she may be paying to have surgery on her feet as well. II.Closing: There are some safety tips for wearing high heels to keep any damage they may cause to a minimum: Bibliog raphy Innes, Wendy. â€Å"The Effects of Wearing High Heels on the Body. †Ã‚  Symptomfind. com. N. p. , May-June 2012. Web. 27 Feb. 2013 . ;http://www. symptomfind. com/health/effects-of-wearing-high-heels/& gt;. Kelly, Caitlin. â€Å"Women Really Are Shoe-Aholics, Study Shows a And The Problem Is? â€Å"Broadside RSS. N. p. , n. d. Web. 27 Feb. 2013. http://trueslant. com/caitlinkelly/2010/07/23/women-really-are-shoe-aholics-study-shows-and-the-problem-is/

Slavery And The American Civil War - 1125 Words

Sanjani Prodduturu Slavery and Civil War Throughout history, it has been commonly misconceived that slavery and the abolishment of slavery has been the sole cause of the American Civil War. Whereas the institution of slavery has been a major cause of the war, the differences in ideologies and beliefs between the North and the South also play a role in the origins of the Civil War. The origins of the Civil War can also be attributed to the political, economical, social, and cultural differences between the North and South during the 1800s. The Cornerstone Speech by Alexander Stephens, Vice President of Confederacy, and the Nast’s cartoon of President Lincoln’s inaugural allow historians to gain a deeper understanding about the causes of the Civil War, and also allow historians to learn how the differences between the North and South led to the Civil War. The ideological differences between the North and the South ultimately led to the succession of the Southern States and the formation of the Confederacy. The differences and conflict between the North and South were too great and couldn’t be amended. The Cornerstone Speech by Alexander Stephens, Vice President of Confederacy, at Savannah, is frequently considered to be one of the greatest speeches associated with the Confederacy. The Cornerstone speech has historical significance today because it explains the essential â€Å"cornerstone† ideologies of the Confederacy, and the fundamental differences between the United States andShow MoreRelatedSlavery And The American Civil War948 Words   |  4 Pages Slavery and the American Civil War By Adam Overman History 101 Professor Brett F. Woods June 14th, 2015 The American Civil War is also referred to as the war between the Northern and Southern States or the Rebellion War that began in 1861. 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Slavery or the legal or economic system under which people are treated as property sprouted in the 1600s when African Americans were brought to Jamestown, Virginia to aid in the production of tobacco. Because we have studied multiple cases dealing with slavery, I was interested in unearthing whether there is a lingering effect today. Slavery was the terrible price that Africans paid to come to America. Europeans turned to African Americans as a cheaper, more plentifulRead MoreSlavery And The American Civil War2377 Words   |  10 PagesSlavery has been a part of the United States since the first African slaves were brought to the North American colony of Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619, to aid in the production of crops (Slavery in America, 2014, p. 1). Slavery was practiced throughout the American colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries, and African-American slaves helped build the fiscal grounds of the new nation (Slavery in America, 2014, p. 1). 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For four years (1862-1865) a war was fought between both Northern Union states and Southern Confederate states over the matter of slavery. During this time period many changes were happening in the United States; the election of an anti-slavery president, Southern states trying to secede to become their own independentRead MoreAmerican Antebellum Slavery And The Civil War1949 Words   |  8 Pagesleave out of consideration.† Two key terms to understand when talking about American antebellum slavery. One might put their soul at ease by the enduring thought that southern slaves were treated amicably; however, this is not the truth. Slave holders and their apologist alike wanted their fellow citizens to feel as though their slaves were conditioned to superior treatment and c onditions. Eliding that free black life and slavery were synonymous...This could not be portrayed more inaccurately. Ira BerlinRead MoreSouthern Slavery and the American Civil War Essay1667 Words   |  7 Pageschange in the American system of equality. They fought for the cause they believe in: no one should be excessively wealthier than another person, and every American should have equal economic opportunity. This movement spread throughout the country with people captivated by the exuberance that fills these protests. This same passion that continues to fill these protesters once filled every American. However, in this instance Americans had enthusiastic, but opposing viewpoints about slavery. The NorthRead MoreSlavery as the Cause of the American Civil War Essay1733 Words   |  7 PagesThe American Civil War was the bloodiest military conflict in American history leaving over 500 thousand dead and over 300 thousand wounded (Roark 543-543). One might ask, what caused such internal tension within the most powerful nation in the world? During the nineteenth century, America was an infant nati on, but toppling the entire world with its social, political, and economic innovations. In addition, immigrants were migrating from their native land to live the American dream (Roark 405-407)Read MoreAbraham Lincoln, Slavery and the American Civil War Essay1716 Words   |  7 Pageswill analyze how Abraham Lincolns view on slavery reflected during and after the American Civil War from 1861 to 1865. To analyze exactly how Lincolns position on slavery affected the war overall, this investigation looks at Lincolns moral and religious views as well as his social and political views. Two main sources were used, both dealing with events relevant to his political career and his roots in his career and other important issues including slavery. Lincoln by David Herbert Donald tells a