Themes in American History

“One of the chief values of clothing is that it enables people to advertise themselves in a way that will win the attention and admiration of others. Many who lack any ability and could not hope to rise above the “average” on their own merit alone, find a satisfactory outlet for this desire for recognition through the medium of dress.” (Hurlock 1929:28-29) Elizabeth Hurlock described the importance of fashionable dress.

Following the fashion cycle, department stores advertised through window displays and window displays. The department store became one of the most important institutions. It was a community center for women. It is not only a place of middle- and upper-class women for consumption but also provided women with job opportunities. From the slogan of Marshall Field “Give the lady what she wants”, we can tell the vital role of women as the department stores’ primary consumers. It helped change the women’s role in society.

B. Altman and Company was founded in 1865 and closed in 1989. It was the first big department store to make the move from the Ladies Mile shopping district

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Before the 1920s, women were used to work at home. Taking care of her family was the primary duty for them, Such as washing dish, cloth, and cooking dinner for their families. At that time, they hadn’t any entertainments and political rights. In contrary, men owned all priorities and authorities, for example; they could go outside to work, and go to club for having fun; also they have right to vote, etc.

During and after the 1920s, there were quite a lot changes in the society. Women began to work outside of their house. Taking care of families weren’t women’s duties any more.   They started to work at factories for making money as men did, and joined women club. Also, they realized that women should have equal opportunities of jobs and rights like men.  In 1920s, women began to have right to vote and participated in political position.

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Women have been looked down upon by men since the beginning of time. Most women took the ridicule thinking that social casting would never change, but some had courage to fight for justice, equality and rights. By the early 20^th century, women had not yet received any rights in the American Democracy. Women were not allowed to vote, had no property rights, not accepted into universities, worked for a fraction of a man’s salary and so on.  On August 18, 1920 the 19^th Amendment was ratified after decades of struggle by women’s rights advocates, bringing a successful end to the US women’s suffrage movement. The Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits any United States citizen to be denied the right to vote on sex. Without the following women, it is unlikely that women in the US would have all the freedom that they have today: Frances Wright, Ernestine Rose, Lucretia Mott, Lucy Stone, Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth C. Stanton. Besides, America has dramatically changed since women gained the right to vote, both economically, politically and culturally.

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