The battle for gender equality has experienced its highs and lows. From winning the right to suffrage to the continuous fight for equal pay, women have been steadily breaking the glass ceiling. In commemoration of International Women's Day on March 8, we look back at some crucial needs women were deprived of in the past and celebrating the fact that indeed, we've come a long way.
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1. Inheriting property directly from their husbands
The timeline of a woman's right to property is filled with milestones that vary by culture throughout history. The first record of unequal rights to inheriting property dates as far back as the biblical era, when Jewish law dictated that women could own land, but wives could not inherit property from their husbands unless they had no children. A harsher law applied to women in ancient Greece, where they were not allowed to inherit property on their own. In America, Mississippi became the first state to allow women to own property under their own names in 1839.
2. Entering into the fields of law, finance, or medicine
Certain professions were closed off to women completely, such as the jobs of a doctor, lawyer, or accountant. While the playing field is leveled these days, it took a while for women to be accepted in those careers. Of course, it took both law and medical schools time to allow women into their institutions.
3. Participating in church
In some major religions, such as Christianity, women played minor roles in serving the church.