The Belle Époque era was definitely a time of relaxation and innovation for many people. Many women found jobs in factories and at home making things such as jewelry and clothing. Women were tired of being looked down upon, and started the struggle for recognition and equality. Women started dressing to impress, and would wear designed dresses and feathers to stand out more. The demand of equal voting rights was high, and they wanted men to start paying attention to their wants. Diana Holmes and Carrie Tar wrote a book called A 'Belle Epoque'? Women in French Society and Culture. This book dug deep into the lives and mind thoughts of women at the time. They wanted to be able to vote, work, and even hold political roles. Other books about women during this time such as A Doll's House (1879), came out in an attempt to show people women are not just house slaves.
Now that we understand the strive for equality during the Belle Époque, you can see how this movement has affected modern life today. The concept for equality has affected us tremendously, and has shaped the world we live in today substantially. It is very fortunate that women today get to sit back and enjoy the benefits we have received since the women's movement.
Do I think that women are fully completely equal to men today? No, I do not. Although we have made tremendous improvement, we still have a way to go. Sexism and gender discrimination are still very high today. We do not often associate a plumber as a female, or a body builder, or even a construction worker. Why? Because many people think that women are not capable of these things. Have you ever heard the saying "a girl cannot play football". That's only known to be a 'mans' sport. Although these things are not near as bad as they use to be, they are still here. "It is a well known fact that women do not get equal pay for equal work. It’s nothing new. However, it goes well beyond this in Florida and probably other states as well. Women do not get a fair shake in our court systems, especially if it involves a man. The man usually wins out over the woman." This article demonstrates not only how far we have come, but just how much farther we have to go. We can run in office, but people still do not think we are capable of handling things.
Overall, The Belle Époque era was a time of huge advancement for women. We have come very far to be where we are now, but that doesn't mean everything is completely equal yet.
