What was life like in the days before Women's Li

by:

Charli (DELPHOOIE)


That's really a complex question. For openers, there was no such thing as sex education in schools. We had a short lecture in hygiene class, usually conducted by the gym teacher. Mostly, it was a speech about how girls were supposed to save themselves for marriage.

There was precious little more than that taught in the home. Nice people didn't talk about thing like that. We all knew that you had to be a virgin or no decent man would have you. There was nothing worse that could happen to you - getting married was your only hope of ever getting out of your home. Nice girls didn't leave their home until they were married.

I remember a girl who got pregnant in high school. Her family moved out of town. The disgrace was too much to bear.

There were no real contraceptive options in those days. Condoms were hidden behind the counter in the drug stores and usually not available to teenagers. Doctors would usually refuse to fit a woman for a diaphragm until after she had at least one child. You knew you would probably be pregnant within your first year of marriage. Lots of women I knew had a child every year or so until they finally locked the husband out of the bedroom or died of exhaustion.

Most of the young women I knew worked until they had their first baby. We paid no attention to the fact that we were paid less for the same work than the men; that was the way it had always been. The "Help Wanted" section was divided into three parts. There was "Help Wanted, Male." "Help Wanted, Female" and "Help Wanted, General."

I didn't know a woman who cashed her own paycheck. Most of us never saw them. Our husbands would pick them up and put them in the bank account. That account, of course, was in his name. We shopped for groceries together and he paid. If we needed money, we asked for it.

I was in for a rude awakening when my husband deserted us before our second child was born. Suddenly, I was on my own with two children and I found out that the world regarded a single woman as less than an adult.


There were things I could do. I could work and actually keep my own paycheck, but I couldn't open a checking account without a man as co-signer. I could rent an apartment, but I could not sign a contract to buy a car without a man as co-signer. The law regarded me as adult enough to raise two babies but would not trust me to balance an account or sign a contract.

I remember the first time I asked for a raise. The conversation went something like this. Me: "George gets paid more than I do and we are doing exactly the same job." Boss: "George is a man." Me: "I've noticed. We are doing the exact same job." Boss: "But he has a family to support." Me: "So do I." Boss: "Well, you should think about getting married again." Me: "I don't plan to marry again until my children are grown." Boss: "Then it is your own fault if you don't have enough money."


At this time, the federal minimum wage had two scales, one for women and one for men. Gender discrimination was institutionalized.

I suppose this is a good time to mention something else that was institutionalized - sexual harassment. There were some bosses who felt they hired sexual services along with their female employees. I can't begin to recall the jobs I quit because it was "put out or get out." Even if I had wanted to put out, I wouldn't have dared -- pregnancy was not an option and there were still no effective contraceptives available. Abortion on demand was not even mentioned in those days. Even if I'd had time for a social life, it would not have been worth it to me. Divorc?es were regarded as "easy." That came home to me very thoroughly when I was raped and the defense attorney put me on trial, implying that I somehow deserved this.


When I got my divorce, I was allowed $ 50 a month in child support. Needless to say, we never s

Hey....

I had my share of sadness about this... just wanted to share it with you guys from other forums..!

So much truth and so much pain?!

I am sorry? all can say?


Wish for better the days for anyone in the similar situations..!!

damn DXP title handler... !! this is the title of the post

"What was life like in the days before Women's Liberation?"

Funny how women were much more respected among the early Christians than during the time implied here. There's a chapter in Matthew I think called 'The Virtuous Woman'. Worth reading. She was loved and praised by her husband; she could buy land and work, she could clothe herself with fine clothes, etc. There are also restitutious discussed within the laws of Moses that she was entitled to as to divorce, separation, etc.

Remember when a woman had a dowry and the man had to earn his right to it?

This isn't going on today in America on a grand scale...the sad thing is that practices like these still occur in other countries.

Thanks Q...Interesting read

AHHHHH alass the good old days. a bit before my time but I have heard storys of the good old days.

I would have been happier if you had asked me to post this or, at least, asked me if I minded you doing so. This was written as a message to young women and every word is true, but this was not the way to do it.

there were blue skys up above , free love know you pay and pay and pay.

Thanks Q-bone for posting this. I get sick when I think of all the misogyny on this site.

So thanks. 🙂

You are very welcome L.S

As long as I am around this site, you'll have nothing to worry about?.(fighting against pigs red necks all the way)?. That?s my mission?

Article is a year old but there are many people around in the similar situation or worse?

I hope and wish the best for those?

Americas women nowadays are kinda similiar to native women of yesteryear only they've gone overboard after getting a taste of control so are complete opposites at the same time.Alot of the more traditional tribes are female ran because the woman is generally the one in control of the household and taking care of everything thing such as food,kids,etc. so it made sense that women should be the overseer.All those stereotypes about indians treating women like crap was generally false and from whites...

I don't know too many native women who'd get pissed at and consider a gentleman a sexist pig for just being considerate or just being nice like some of those feminist psychos do...

*** who'd get pissed at and consider a gentleman a sexist pig for just being considerate or just being nice like some of those feminist psychos do...

Who does this though? I have never seen anyone get angry at someone for holding open a door, helping someone put their jacket on, yadda, yadda.

Here, there is actually a movement towards etiquette. It is wonderful.

Where do you live?Theres alot of women in NYC and LA that get pissed because of etiquette and consider it to be sexist.

Really? What freaks! Why would anyone be angry because someone was nice to them?

I am in Toronto, Canada. One of my best friends is an ex-pat from the states. From what she says our culture is not as aggressive and more polite to begin with.

I find it interesting that etiquette is not being pushed so hard in the states. It is big news here especially in business. There are allsorts of seminars, workshops, etc on etiquette especially for business folks.

People would be angrier if you didn't hold the door open than if you did.

GL

Do you get into Toronto often? If you do, drop me a line. It would be fun to go for coffee or something. 🙂

hee!

Will do! 🙂