Q1.Three critical women in redefining woman's roles over the course of 18th , 19th and 20th centuries.
The view of the majority of feminist readers, Wordsworth puts feminine, which is relates to nature in a great masculine tradition for which women cannot take part in them. In his poetry, therefore he sees the poet as a violator of this nature of feminist. This he says nurtures the male child forcing the girl child to reveal her secrets. He summarizes gender roles that nature is a victim of male desires. He also sees nature as a power taking the place of patriarch’s authority. Nature discriminates men and gives an added advantage to the female’s right from early socialization in the society.
ABIGAIL ADAMS
Being the wife of the second United States president, Abigail became a role model in her age that is the colonial, revolutionary, and early post-revolutionary periods. She had firm stand in fighting for women’s rights by writing letters to her husband. As sharp an educated woman, she competently managed her family’s farm and finances. She became a loving wife to her husband John Adams was evident by the letters she used to address to him. Most of the time when her husband was not around she corresponded with the family members and friends on his behalf. She always remains at home to watch over family affairs when John became the United States president in 1789-1797. Abigail obediently served her husband after retirement where they lived quietly in Massachusetts with no reported cases of family wrangles, as it is common in most families after withdrawal of power.
ALICE PAUL
She grew in Quaker and attended Swarthmore College worked in New York and later got her PhD from university of Pennsylvania in 1912. She became the chair of the National American Women Association (NASWA) for a period of one year. She later joined Congressional Union for Women Suffrage, which drastically evolved under the leadership of Alice. She took part in protest for women suffrage and being so much engaged in hunger strikes in England. This role brought a flash back the sense of militancy. In U.S, she planned protests and rallies until she was imprisoned. National Women’s Party working for Suffrage constitutional amendment and NAWSA worked together to ensure that more politicians in the federal level had stake in keeping women voters happy and spearheaded issues at the political world. When federal amendment succeeded, she introduced a fight to pass Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which was passed in 1970 by the congress, and send it to states for ratification. Paul was passionate in peace movement giving her opinion that women should have been involved in ending World War II.
ANN HUTCHINSON
Born in Alford, England she was a Puritan. Her parents were well of and they could afford her better education than other girls could. She was a midwife ready to help those who needed her assistance given that she also had personal understanding of religion. She found herself hosting women in her house giving commentary on sermons. This colony grew strong, hosting even men but was later opposed by ministers because of controversy and so was convicted and disbanded. She clashed with ministers explaining subordination of women thereby making great contribution to religious freedom in Massachusetts facing her accusations with courage.
Q2. Women’s historians are the most important people because they give us historical facts about great women who did remarkably well to influence the lives of people on earth. If by chance these people are prevented from undertaking their jobs, there are three main lessons that the next generation of young men and women need to learn that is leadership and power, environmental conservation and education. I am going to discuss each of these lessons indicating the role that women play in each and quoting an example of renowned woman who contributed to each.
LEADERSHIP AND POWER
Though politics and powerful leadership positions for a long time has been male dominated, there are successful women who have fought to triumph their male counterparts. It is good for the coming generation to understand that women too can be good leaders and represent their people very well. They would need to observe performance of those who have been given a chance to serve in such positions and draw some lessons from them.
Hillary Rodham Clinton the 67th secretary of state is a senior official in the Federal Government and US leading the Department of state dealing with foreign affairs. Being the highest ranked member of the cabinet, she is the third highest official after the president. She will be remembered for her dedicated commitment to managing diplomatic service of the United States. The Foreign Service employs over 10,000 people within the country and supports over 250 US diplomatic missions among the ambassadors to various nations.
EDUCATION
Education is the key to a successful life for most citizens. It gives one exposure to, experiences the world, and interacts with different classes of people. Without education, it becomes even hard to pass technical skills from one person to the other. If historians are prevented from sharing heroines in education who have successfully done it, it will be the responsibility of the next generation to search for themselves women or a woman who makes an impact in the society through their contribution to education.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION.
The late Professor Wangari Maathai was a Kenyan environmental and political activist. She went to Mt. St. Scholastica, Pittsburgh, and University of Nairobi. She founded the Green Belt Movement around 1970s which is an environmental organization dealing with trees planting, environmental conservation and the rights of women. With establishment of Environmental Liaison Centre in 1974 and effort of United Nation Environmental Programme (UNEP), she rose to become the chair where she worked tirelessly to at the headquarters in Nairobi.
Works Cited
DuBois, Ellen C and Lynn Dumenil. Through Women's Eyes. 3rd Ed, 2012.
June, Purvis. Women's History Today. New York: Nerd Press, 2004.
