Women's Reform

19th century American society did not respond well to women's demands for equality.  Women finally began to speak up for their rights, and realize that their objectification as inferiors to their husbands was not right or just.  However, considering that women's role as complete caretaker of the home in the 19th century was so entrenched in American society and was all that they knew, society did not take well to women's desire to change society's perception of them.  The first true women's rights convention took place in Seneca Falls, New York in July of 1848, and many people at the time believed that women should not fight for their rights and should remain submissive.  This popular opinion is seen in a newspaper article in the The Mechanics Advocate at the time the convention took place, "We are sorry to see that women, in several parts of this State, are holding what they call "Woman's Rights Conventions," and setting forth a formidable list of those Rights, in a parody upon the Declaration of American Independence." 
Although women are treated far more equally today than they ever have been in the past, there is still some inequality between societal treatment of women and men.  Although women are supported in their holding of high ranking jobs and their life outside of the home, women are still treated differently than men.  The Pantene commercial which we watched in class really displayed just how differently men and women are perceived by society, even if they're doing the exact same thing.  Every example that was brought up in the commercial I have seen first hand, and I completely agree with the commercial's belief that we still have a long way to go as a society in terms of our perceptions of women in all parts of life.
http://youtu.be/-K2kfgW7708