Table of Contents
The Movements in 19th Century
Civil rights for racial equality (CRRE) and women’s right movement (WRM) are some of the movements that were pronounced in the past years and, are still felt to date. This paper outlines some of the differences and similarities that were evident in these movements in the 19th century and currently. In the 19th century the first difference between these two movements is that WRM involved women almost 90% (Yeakel, 2013) while CRRE concerned all races and everyone. Secondly WRM majorly pointed to women receiving equal treatments as men in relation to voting (United Nations, 2014); CRRE on the other hand focussed on fight against division of the whole world into white and black coloured persons, where by the black coloured received unfair treatments. CRRE was relatively bigger involving African Americans, who aimed at getting equal treatments as the white Americans (Karson, 2005). WMR on the other hand was smaller as it composed mainly women though both the white and black skin-coloured were involved. Lastly, WMR applied use of secular and political language in their protest but CRRE used use more of religious language in their protest.
There are also a number of similarities in these movements which were also evident in the 19th Century. First, the cause of these movements relate to human discrimination. Either a man or a women was discriminated in both cases. In this, they claimed that all people deserved equal treatment whether male, female, white or black. Secondly, the protestants in both cases were the minority in comparison to those whom they were protesting against. Both movements also shared some common agenda like ending slavery, which was very prevalent in the 1830s (United Nations, 2014). In addition, the protests in the movements took a longer time before any positive results could be detected and were done publicly on roads without violence.
The Movements in the modern Time
In the 1960s, (to 2013) protests for the civil rights became victorious. The sitting presidents signed a legislative document (Civil Rights Act) that abolished discrimination against religion, colour, race, or origin. WRM became victorious in 1920 when women voted in huge numbers as an evidence of their capability in choosing who to lead them. However, both movements have undergone transformation and the intensity of the main causes of the movement, have faded as they achieved their intensions.
In comparing the 19th century movements, and the modern day movements, in this context, great transformation is evident. For WRM, the agenda has changed from voting to issues relating to corporate employment positions, equal waging for same position of work for both sexes and prohibition of violent socialization with women in anyway, among others. Besides, many organizations have cropped up with the aim of enhancing the issues listed above and ensuring general empowerment of women. For instance, National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) forms one of such organizations. This generated as a merge between two groups within the movement. CRRE on the other hand has evolved, and from the time of the amendment of the act, the government has positively impact, implementation of the movement’s claim. Currently, racial issues are considered illegal and those engaging in it are treated as criminals (Hassan, 2015). Generally, both movements do not engage in informal public protests are it was in the past, but they have formalised their operations, and legal provisions have been made in their support.
- Hassan, S. (2015, February 9). Struggle for Racial Equality in American Countinues. Aljazeera America, p. 1.
- Karson, J. (2005). The Civil Rights Movement. New York: Greenhaven Press.
- United Nations. (2014). Women’s Rights are Human Rights. New York And Geneva: United Nations.
- Yeakel, L. (2013, October 20). Struggle for Women’s Rights and Civil Rights Linked. The Huffington Post, p. 1.