How Feminists Have Made Countless Advancements For Women

Introduction Less than 100 years ago, the United States government did not allow women the right to vote. The 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1920 provided all citizens, regardless of gender, the opportunity to exercise this right. While this is a commonly known fact, it was only 47 years ago that a woman was not permitted to run in the Boston Marathon. The feminist movement was directly responsible for pivotal changes in our country. The belief that men and women should have access to equal rights and opportunities continues to affect our culture today. In this paper, I analyze how feminists have made countless improvements for women. As a female, high school varsity cross country/track runner, I was shocked to learn that the â€Å"powers that be† prohibited women from running in a marathon until Katherine Switzer bravely snuck in, entered, and finished one. Halfway through the incredibly exhausting 26-mile event, she thought to herself, â€Å"The reason there are no intercollegiate sports for women at big universities, no scholarships, prize money, or any races longer than 800 meters is because women don’t have the opportunities to prove they want those things.† (1967 Boston Marathon) She endured on-going verbal attacks from the race officiator and with pure determination finished the race knowing that if she did not, â€Å"people will say women can’t do it!† (1967 Boston Marathon) The effects of feminism have already had a direct impact on my life starting with theShow MoreRelatedThe Social, Political, And Economic Equality Between The Sexes1680 Words   |  7 Pageswave began, proclaiming oneself as a feminist was radical. However, people knew the real meaning at that time, that is, the actual definition. In the new wave of feminism, people have come to see this word as an ugly and undesirable title. 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