Dr Draper's Women's Studies: A Look To The Past

This digital exhibition will take you through the progression and evolution of women. It highlights women who have made important contributions to our society and monumental events that shape our modern view of women. Throughout history societies have suppressed women from enjoying their freedoms and expressing their opinions. Many women have died for the cause and suffered unjustly, however I have chosen to focus this display on the women, past and present, who motivate and encourage me to be better.

ESTHER

The first woman in our showcase today is Esther. This painting by Edwin Long depicts the final moments of preparation before Esther went in to see the Persian King Xerxes. Esther was a Jewish woman and was the new wife to Xerxes, however she could not appear before him unless she was specifically summoned. After learning from her family of plans to kill the Jewish population she decided she must act on faith and risked her life to go into the King’s court. She ultimately was spared and did convince the King to save her people.

Esther is included as the first woman in our museum because she had the courage to stand up for her beliefs, even if it meant dying, in a culture dominated by norms and traditions. She is a great example of how women, dating back to Old Testament times, were strong and courageous in spite of a system that encouraged silence and submissiveness.

JOAN OF ARC

Fast-forward now to Medieval France (early 1400s). Joan was a young, peasant girl who believed that God wanted her to lead France to victory against England (History.com Staff 2009). She indeed convinced officials and led a French army, in spite of having no formal military training, to a victory over the English. Joan of Arc was later captured and burned at the stake under charges of witchcraft and heresy.

Though Joan of Arc’s story doesn’t end triumphantly, she was a courageous and ambitious woman. Though she did not know anything about the military, at a young age she took charge and proved her abilities. Joan of Arc, the young peasant girl, went against gender norms and cultural tradition to lead her nation to victory.

HARRIET TUBMAN

Now we turn to the mid 1800s in North America. Slavery is endemic, particularly to the southern states, and is causing a deepening divide between the Union North and the Confederate South. The civil war is only a decade away when Harriet Tubman flees slavery, leaving behind her husband and family (History.com Staff, 2009). Following her escape, she returned to the south at least 19 more times to assist others in fleeing to the North through a system of routes and people that later came to be known as the Underground Railroad. Not one person was captured or left behind on these high-risk missions. Harriet Tubman’s bravery and intelligence aided her and several others in fighting for a better life.

SENECA FALLS CONVENTION

This document comes from the Seneca Falls Convention held in New York in the summer of 1848. Organized largely by Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the convention invited exclusively women to come and “discuss the social, civil, and religious condition and rights of women” (History.com Staff 2010). The convention opened their doors to men the second day but only around 40 came. Women were not yet allowed to vote and issues of equality were becoming more and more intolerable. Though no policy changes directly came about from this convention, it marked the beginning of the women’s suffrage movement in America.

MARIE CURIE

Marie Curie was a Polish born French physicist (Encyclopedia Britannica 2017). She dedicated her life to her work in physics and chemistry where she was the recipient of two Nobel Prizes. In the early 1900s, Marie Curie was the first woman to ever win a Nobel Prize. Marie and Pierre Curie had two daughters but continued to research and lecture throughout their lives. Marie stands as a strong example to women and girls everywhere that regardless of what fields of work or study are dominated by men, women can and have made lasting contributions in all fields. Marie Curie was a woman pioneer in the sciences and proves once again that women are capable of anything they put their mind to.

AUGUST 18th, 1920

More than 80 years after the first convention in Seneca Falls, NY, women finally won the right to vote on August 18^th, 1920. The 19^th amendment to the constitution was passed, stating that, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex” (History.com Staff 2010). This remains one of the most monumental events in the history of women’s rights. This acknowledged that the opinions and beliefs of women were significant in the political sphere.

ROSIE THE RIVETER

This iconic poster came to symbolize the role of women in the workforce during World War II. As men were recruited to fight in the army, more and more women were needed to occupy the industrial jobs they left behind. Even after WWII, women retained their strong hold on the workforce. Though wage inequality would persist throughout many decades, women’s entrance into the workforce dramatically changed how society viewed the role of women.

HIGHER EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Though somewhat difficult to see, this graph published by the Census Bureau shows the convergence in 2015 of women and men’s attainment of Bachelor’s Degrees. A clear gap has long existed as men graduated with Bachelor’s degrees significantly more often than women. The gap started to narrow and was finally closed in 2015. This signifies another landmark in the progress of women as they have achieved equality of opportunity in higher education.

EDNA ADAN

Edna Adan was born in Somaliland and has returned since her retirement from the World Health Organization to open a maternity hospital where she trains young girls to be mid-wives. Somaliland has some of the highest rates of maternal and infant mortality and very few resources to help young mothers deliver safe and healthy babies. Edna Adan has saved thousands of lives and continues to grow and expand her vision.

MALALA YOUSAFZAI

Malala was born in Pakistan and as a young girl publicly spoke out against the Taliban invading her country. When the Taliban’s hold on Swat Valley weakened her school reopened and she was able to attend again. The Taliban, however, targeted Malala and one day as she boarded the bus a masked gunman asked for her by name and shot her in the head, neck, and shoulder (Malala.org). She was in critical condition but survived the shootings and remained a powerful advocate for education for all. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in December 2014, making her the youngest ever Nobel Laureate.

HILLARY CLINTON

Hillary Clinton was an esteemed politician who had a great deal of political experience. She was the First Lady for eight years while her husband was President, was elected as a Senator for New York, and was Secretary of State under President Barack Obama. She was the first woman to ever run for President. Though she lost the 2016 campaign, she has achieved a great deal and is an example to all women everywhere that no goal or dream is too high to shoot for.

WOMEN'S MARCH

Our museum exhibition concludes with this picture from the Women’s March in Washington, D.C. this January. Millions gathered in cities throughout the United States to symbolize the importance of women and all marginalized populations. I conclude with this image because it embodies the theme of this project. Women have always shown their bravery, courage, strength, and intellect throughout history and they continue to progress and challenge the system that suppresses them. We cannot understand the modern view of women without looking to our past. I am proud to be a woman and stand with women throughout the globe as we achieve more landmarks and break down the stereotypes and barriers that bind us down.

CITATIONS:

Esther Picture Citation:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Esther_haram.jpg Wikimedia Commons

Esther Story Citation:

https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/asset/RAE4eZ--7_xm2A Google Arts & Culture

Joan of Arc Picture Citation:

https://www.wikiart.org/en/jean-auguste-dominique-ingres/joan-of-arc-on-corronation-of-charles-vii-in-the-cathedral-of-reims WikiArt

Joan of Arc Information Citation:

http://www.history.com/topics/saint-joan-of-arc

Harriet Tubman Photo Citation:

https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2003674596/resource/cph.3a10453/?sid=cca00cb7c203378df958cb88a2be7a79 Library of Congress Online Catalog

Harriet Tubman Information Citation: