Throughout the late 19th and early 20th century, the women’s movement challenged prior established societal structure and gender roles, by demanding political representation, and equality under the law. The emergence of the earliest feminist movement, the push against gender roles within the suffragette movement challenged ideals of domesticated women, and the belief that a woman’s place was simply in the home.
Women’s increasing role within the workplace from the Industrial Revolution, allowed such change. The transition from the prior cottage industry, allowed for the rise of women being involved in the same workplaces as men in order to generate enough product for rapid demand, allowing for women to be essential in production.
Similarly, the rise of educational reform, and the technological advancement of the bicycle further challenged a woman’s role beyond a life beneath spouse. The bicycle itself, for feminism, became a symbol of independence, provided women the freedom of movement, and eventually transitioned into the car (that we recognize today!) , and the mobility that arose with it.
The invention of the bicycle served as a causation for a change in symbolic wardrobe choices, such as corsets and rather impractical dressing senses, that had prior been the expectation for women, now transitioning to revolution in dressing, with the ability of choice, and freedom. Allowing us to slowly transform into the modern wardrobe of today’s women, that would have once been viewed as manly or not ‘women-like’.
Society viewed this as a threat to the deeply rooted patriarchy that had been established, being met with resistance from the government, churches, and other holders of conservative values. As these institutions continuously preached obedience, and a maintenance of family values, that they believed were threatened with the women’s movement.
Today, centuries later the discussion of women’s rights is still prevalent, with many individuals rejecting the origins of feminism or its necessity overall. Often what individuals forget, is that the rights we take so lightly, such as the right for a woman to speak her mind, or express her opinion (even if it is that feminism was not needed) is a result of the efforts of the original feminist movement. The bicycle or change in wardrobe for women was the first step to independence because of feminism.
Here is your sign, to acknowledge feminism as a tool to allow women and girls to work, play and learn, and realize that this effort is still a work in progress with many countries still not allowing such rights today. Even if you believe you have access to the same rights as all other genders, many don’t, this is why the fight of feminism isn’t even close to over.
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