Marriage
"We are continually told that civilization and Christianity have restored to the woman her just rights. Meanwhile the wife is the actual bondservant of her husband; no less so, as far as the legal obligation goes, than slaves commonly so called."
- John Stuart Mill's essay The Subjection of Women
- John Stuart Mill's essay The Subjection of Women
Until the mid 19th century, Women were powerless. They were regarded as the inferior to men, they had an important role in household, while never had an opportunity outside the house. They had no right to own property, custody, political positional, economical opportunities and educational opportunities. It seemed like the husband and wife were seen as one person because everything was owned by the husband. However, women were started to develop their individual thinking and empowerment.
In the mid-19th century, thanks to the women’s movements and their new ideas, Things were started changed greatly. Many states worked to create women’s wills without their husband’s consent. And in 1839, Mississippi was the first states allowing the first Married women’s Property. Many other states used New York’s “married women’s Property Act 1848” as a model.
The act included:
1) Property before marriage would remain under women’s control
2) Property after marriage would remain under women’s control
3) Property as a gift would remain under women’s control
4) Prenuptial contract would remain honorably.
* Prenuptial contract: a legal agreement entered into by an engaged couple prior to being married and provides for an agreed upon distribution of assets if the marriage ends in divorce.
After the civil war, the Library of Congress passed more laws to equalize property between men and women. Although Husband was still thought to be the head of the family, the wife gained more power. They were allowed to own wills without their husband’s consent. Also they had gained rights to divorce and sometimes they could grant custody of their children.
Women gained a new and important role in raising their children, responsible for producing not only competent daughters but virtuous and patriotic sons, because they believed the citizens needed a strong education background and these backgrounds come from their mothers.
In the mid-19th century, thanks to the women’s movements and their new ideas, Things were started changed greatly. Many states worked to create women’s wills without their husband’s consent. And in 1839, Mississippi was the first states allowing the first Married women’s Property. Many other states used New York’s “married women’s Property Act 1848” as a model.
The act included:
1) Property before marriage would remain under women’s control
2) Property after marriage would remain under women’s control
3) Property as a gift would remain under women’s control
4) Prenuptial contract would remain honorably.
* Prenuptial contract: a legal agreement entered into by an engaged couple prior to being married and provides for an agreed upon distribution of assets if the marriage ends in divorce.
After the civil war, the Library of Congress passed more laws to equalize property between men and women. Although Husband was still thought to be the head of the family, the wife gained more power. They were allowed to own wills without their husband’s consent. Also they had gained rights to divorce and sometimes they could grant custody of their children.
Women gained a new and important role in raising their children, responsible for producing not only competent daughters but virtuous and patriotic sons, because they believed the citizens needed a strong education background and these backgrounds come from their mothers.
