Women's Roles Then and Now Essay

Role of Women

Womens' Role Then and Now

Women's Role Then and Now

Women's Role Then and Now

Women have played an important role at different times in various fields. They have faced many challenges bravely and gave a new direction for the women to follow in later periods. The achievements are unprecedented and give an idea about the level of courage the women have. Their determination helped them elevate not only their name but they also motivated uncountable other women.

Women's Role Then and Now

The history of the world is but the biography of great men is an old quote which is as true today as it was centuries ago. History has witnessed uncountable great individuals who earned good name and fame because of their service to their country or mankind. It would be biased to attribute all historical achievements to men only. Women, being the partners of men, have worked hard to serve the humanity and there are many females whose name will remain alive in the time to come.

The role of woman has often been mistakenly underestimated by the people who have not come across any success story of females. Women, in all times have played their role remarkably. The number of females serving humanity may be less than that of males, but their role and existence as heroines cannot be denied in any period of history.

This paper gives an idea about role of women in the 19th century. The paper adopts the different strategy to highlight their achievements. Instead of describing their biography and achievements, the paper proceeds in the form of dialogue between two notable women of 19th century. The women selected for this paper are Elizabeth Blackwell and Florence Nightingale. The former is pioneer women doctor in the U.S.A. And the later is known to have reformed medical treatment systems in hospitals and nursing profession in Europe. Both the ladies belong to healthcare services.

The conversation gives an idea about their view of role of women as well.

Florence: Hello Elizabeth.How are you?

Elizabeth: Hi. I am fine. How are you Florence?

Florence: I am fine too, going well with my cause.

Elizabeth: Nice to know (Smiling). So you have decided the direction for yourself.

Florence: Yes (with excitement). I feel I have been sent over to this world with a great cause and I have to dedicate myself to it. You know I was worried about myself when I first met you in St. Bartholomew's Hospital at London (Somervill, 2009).

Elizabeth: (continued smiling) Yes. I remember. You had the passion to unleash your potential and do something to the society.

Florence: Yes, I really want to do something new, something exceptional, something that could speak of my existence & #8230; just like you (smile)… you know I am inspired by you a lot. We are age fellows & #8230;like you were born in 1821 (Chung, 2010) and I in 1820 (Tieck, 2006). You have clear vision about your future and being female, you are doing something which is really an exception.

Elizabeth: Hmmm. It is really important to for us ladies to play the role in human development. You know, I did not like women patients consulting make doctors and it was the wish to give them an opportunity to visit female doctors so I took the field of medicine.

Florence: And became the first female doctor in USA (smiling) (Robbins, Martin and Timmons, 2006). (pause). It is really an achievement. I often think how you could face all the challenges. I mean it was something entirely new for society. How did you mange to convince your parents to enroll in this field?

Elizabeth: It did not take me much effort to convince them. My father has been very supportive. He used to encourage me and my sister to learn Mathematics when we are kids. Means, he had a wish that we excel and his support was really encouraging.

Florence: That's really nice to know.….....