Women’s empowerment between 1865 and 1992 was a direct reflection of the 19th amendment. Discuss

The premise of the question requires an ability to dissect and debate a number of the influencing factors in women’s rapid development in the period. The key way for students to distinguish them is by asking them to focus on the imperative word in the question, in this case ‘discuss’. I would approach the question with them by inviting them to highlight the importance and effects of the enfranchisement act itself, considering it in a thematic sense in order to better discuss other factors. If they can understand the importance of the amendment as a political trope, they can also easily compare them to economic tropes and periods, particularly in relation to the war. In order to develop a students understanding of the evaluation and appreciation of a wide period required at A- level, I would go through the following argument with them, highlighting the different elements that give it structure, before challenging to write the next point of discussion to oppose.

The Nineteenth amendment certainly contributed to the development of new female empowerment in the period- most notably in its political elements. That women now had the ability to vote meant that they could participate in the very real and important discussions affecting their lives as never before. Unlike in the nineteenth century, where feminist activism revolved around their social roles- displayed in Jane Addams' Hull Houses, the act gave women the freedom to join political groups, particularly trade unions. In fact, there were 27,000 female Trade Union members in 1931, which therefore clearly shows both a greater engagement with their new power and the means by which to affect change for the first time. Yet, the fact that the first female cabinet member, Geraldine Ferraro was not elected until way into the 1980s would seem to reflect a disunity in the wake of enfranchisement as it suggests that despite gaining the vote, women were still considered unable for the political realm, across both genders. Similarly, whilst 27,000 women were members of the union, this may actually demonstrate that it was not the amendment that sparked developments in their rights, but that women's collective activism was more prominent because these membership figures would insinuate that women were more focused on direct activism. The Nineteenth amendment is, hitherto, merely a minor player in the development of women's empowerment in the period.