The Good Fight: America's Fight for Women's Rights with Elizabeth Cobbs
Feb 1, 2024
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A special interview with Professor Elizabeth Cobb about her book 'Fearless Women', exploring various aspects of feminism in America and the specific rights women had in the 1920s. The journey of women's rights in the United States, from the right to wear pants to having a woman of color as vice president. Obstacles faced during the suffrage movement, including Abigail Adams' efforts. Power dynamics in a relationship and the structure of a book on women in American history. The impact of women's rights movements on Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Packard. The ongoing struggle for women's rights in the 1920s and misconceptions about liberation. Captivating stories of women featured in a book and time-traveling possibilities.
Mary Church Terrell and Rosa Cava Yari fought for women's rights, addressing issues such as racial inequality and reproductive health.
Francis Perkins advocated for economic equality by fighting for minimum wage, social security, and unemployment insurance.
The fight for women's rights in America has evolved over generations, encompassing suffrage, reproductive rights, and economic empowerment.
Deep dives
Mary Church Terrell and Rosa Cava Yari
Mary Church Terrell, a black suffragist, marched on the White House and fought for the rights of all women, while Rosa Cava Yari, an Italian immigrant, faced the struggle of reproductive health and the challenges of being an unmarried woman in America.
Francis Perkins and Anne Marie Reeb
Francis Perkins, the first woman to serve in a presidential cabinet, fought for minimum wage, social security, and unemployment insurance. Anne Marie Reeb, a cowgirl and teacher, grappled with the financial constraints of the Great Depression and the societal expectations for women.
The Right to Earn
In the 1920s and 1930s, more women entered the workforce and sought financial independence. However, they faced barriers such as the inability to open bank accounts without a man and limited control over their wages. Figures like Francis Perkins and Anne Marie Reeb navigated these challenges in pursuit of economic equality.
Reproductive Rights and Education for Women
During the 1920s, conversations around reproductive rights and education for women gained momentum. Figures like Mary Church Terrell and Rosa Cava Yari illuminated the pressing issues faced by women, including access to birth control, knowledge about reproductive health, and the societal constraints on women's choices.
The Legacy of Feminism
The fight for women's rights in America, as explored by Elizabeth Cobb's in her book Fearless Women, reveals the progressive steps taken by each generation to advance gender equality. From suffrage to reproductive rights and economic empowerment, the stories of diverse women highlight the ongoing challenges and triumphs in the long history of feminism.