Ken_Fulkroad_HIS_200_Applied_History_Historical_Analysis_Essay
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HIS-200: Historical Analysis Essay Kenneth Fulkroad
Southern New Hampshire University
HIS-200-H7525 Applied History
Aubrey Underwood-Eidson
March 3, 2024
Historical Analysis Essay
The following essay will attempt to analyze the various complexities involved with the women’s suffrage movement and will explore how these events greatly impacted the accessibility and advancement of healthcare for women across this country. The analysis provided in the following essay will delve into the origins, challenges, and successes that made the events that shaped this movement such a defining part of our country’s landscape and a foundation for which many other countries soon after followed suit. Through my research efforts to gain a broader understanding of this topic's context and historical relevance, I have developed the following research question related to my chosen topic
of the impact women’s suffrage had on healthcare equity: “How did the Women’s Suffrage Movement in the United States during the 20th century influence the advancement of healthcare equity for women, and what were the key challenges and successes in achieving this equity?”
Women’s suffrage significantly influenced the delivery and availability of healthcare services for women in the United States. The establishment of Planned Parenthood (now called Planned Parenthood Federation of America) in 1916 is a clear example of one direct outcome that occurred as a direct result of the women's suffrage movement. It began as a pioneering organization dedicated to advocating for and promoting access to family planning, contraception,
and women's reproductive health. The founding of Planned Parenthood embodied the growing awareness and recognition among women of the significance of demanding better access to healthcare services tailored to their specific needs and concerns (Johnstonbaugh, 2020).
The women's suffrage movement also played an instrumental role in shaping the development of healthcare services for women in the United States. The National Organization for Women (NOW), the flagship organization of the women's rights movement, actively lobbied for the creation of Title IX. This landmark legislation of the United States Education Amendments of 192 was enacted in 1977. It specifically prohibited sex-based discrimination in educational institutions, including those receiving federal funding. The advocacy efforts of NOW
for the promulgation of Title IX significantly impacted the healthcare sector, as it helped to increase women's access to healthcare services, including those related to women's gynecological
needs (Barakso, 2004).
One significant consequence of the women's rights movement on healthcare in the United States was its enduring impact on women's reproductive health rights. The landmark United States Supreme Court decision in the case of Roe v. Wade in 19737 was a monumental victory for the women's rights movement. It established the constitutional right to privacy, which encompassed a woman's right to choose and access safe and legal abortions. The Supreme Court's
decision in favor of Roe v. Wade was a direct reflection of the increasing influence and power of the women's rights movement on healthcare and women's reproductive health rights (Williams, 2016).
To truly understand the nuances of and intricacies that were vital factors in the growth of this movement and the subsequent impact that it has had on our healthcare system, specifically as
it relates to women, exploring detailed accounts from direct individuals on the frontline of this
movement, stands as the most reasonable approach to gaining a clearer understanding of where this all evolved from in the first place. One important individual who was highly important to the
beginning stages of this movement was Margaret Sanger. A publication founded in 1914 by Margaret titled “The Women Rebel” boldly discussed topics like contraception, women's sexual autonomy, and reproductive health. It also served to provide firsthand insights into the early efforts to promote women's reproductive rights, which are closely tied to the ongoing fight for modern-day healthcare equity. This groundbreaking publication would not have been possible without the fearless, unapologetic, and willfully voiceful efforts of Margaret Sanger during a time when these qualities were not interpreted as favorable for a woman to exemplify (
Margaret Sanger
, 2016). The efforts of an organization known as The Boson Women’s Health Book Collective is yet another important factor that stands paramount to the evolution and advancement of equal rights and the ongoing push for healthcare equity. This collective group published a groundbreaking book first published in 1970 known as "Our Bodies, Ourselves" written by the Boston Women's Health Book Collective. In it, we find a comprehensive guide to women's health and sexuality that empowers women to take control of their bodies and healthcare decisions (“History & Legacy,” n.d.). By emphasizing the importance of self-advocacy and informed decision-making, "Our Bodies, Ourselves" played a significant role in promoting gender equality in healthcare.
Reports and first-hand accounts, told by individuals who were directly involved in this movement during the critical stages of its development are indeed vital to gaining a better understanding of this movement’s impact on the accessibility and advancement we see today with women’s access to healthcare. However, by exploring the expert analysis of scholarly
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researchers who have invested their efforts into expanding the analysis of these developments, we can gain an even better understanding of the course of these events and why this movement was and is so important to women’s healthcare as we see it today. "The Ways in Which Women's
Suffrage Affected Healthcare" is a publication discussing the influence of the women's suffrage movement on healthcare. This publication provides a look at how progressive articles in women's magazines, the discussion of marital rape, and access to birth control were impacted by the movement (Weber, 2021).
One final contributing piece of analysis is a published article titled: "U.S. Women's Movements and Health Care Reform"
written by Circulating Now. This article explores the transformative impact of the feminist movement of the 1960s and 70s on the medical system. It also highlights how the movement emphasized women's knowledge and control over their healthcare decisions, contributing to advancements in healthcare equity. Through the reading of this article, we are provided a historical perspective on the connection between women's rights activism and healthcare reform (Now, 2015). The importance of the topic of Women’s healthcare and the Women’s Suffrage Movement is underscored by the many important women throughout my own life who have been
instrumental to my overall development as well as influential figures whom I see as primary role models that I have the utmost respect for. The process that I have undergone to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for these issues, has only prepared me to support the following thesis: The women's rights movement in the United States during the 20th century significantly influenced the advancement of healthcare equity for women by challenging discriminatory practices, advocating for reproductive rights, and promoting access to
quality healthcare services despite facing key challenges such as societal resistance, legislative barriers, and persistent gender disparities in the healthcare system.
Through my research process, I have also gained a clearer understanding of the challenges faced by women in accessing equitable healthcare services. One example of this can be seen through a deeper analysis of the repeal of Roe v. Wade, a landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the United States. By delving into the historical context leading up to the case, including the social movements and legal battles surrounding reproductive
rights, I have gained a deeper understanding of the significance of the decision and the implications of its reversal. Additionally, studying the impact of Roe v. Wade on women's healthcare, autonomy, and broader societal attitudes toward abortion has only highlighted the transformative role the case played in shaping reproductive rights in the US. Exploring the potential consequences of repealing Roe v. Wade, such as increased restrictions on abortion access and disparities in healthcare equity, has also illuminated the enduring relevance and complexities of this historical event.
In the future, further analysis of my previously mentioned thesis statement would hopefully involve further research into specific case studies or focus on the intersectionality of race, class, and gender within the movement's healthcare advocacy. It may involve exploring other primary sources such as legislative records, personal accounts, and organizational archives to analyze the strategies used by activists to address discriminatory practices and advance reproductive rights. Additionally, examining the role of key figures, grassroots organizations, and
the impact of landmark policies like Roe v. Wade could provide insights into the movement's influence on healthcare equity. Future research directions could mean investigating the long-term
effects of these advocacy efforts on healthcare access and outcomes for women, considering ongoing challenges and evolving dynamics within the healthcare system.
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References
Barakso, M. (2004). Governing now: Grassroots activism in the national organization for women
. Cornell University Press.
History & legacy. (n.d.). Our Bodies Ourselves Today
. Retrieved February 23, 2024, from https://www.ourbodiesourselves.org/about-us/our-history/
Johnstonbaugh, M. (2020). Standing up for women? How party and gender influence politicians’ online discussion of planned parenthood. Journal of Women, Politics & Policy
, 41
(4), 477–499. https://doi.org/10.1080/1554477X.2020.1743120
Margaret sanger: The woman rebel
. (2016, August 15). National Archives. https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/sanger.html
Now, C. (2015, December 17). U. S. Women’s movements and health care reform
. Circulating Now from the NLM Historical Collections. https://circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov/2015/12/17/u-s-womens-movements-and-health-care-
reform-2/
Weber, M. (2021). The ways in which women’s suffrage affected healthcare. The Review: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Research
, 22
(1). https://fisherpub.sjf.edu/ur/vol22/iss1/6
Williams, D. K. (2016). Defenders of the unborn: The pro-life movement before Roe v. Wade
. Oxford University Press.