Much has been depicted in movies and print, of the roles played by women in America’s early development, and there are many women who have achieved recognition for their individual contributions. But what was the general status of women in early America? American sociologists have identified two stages of equality in American families of the nineteenth century.

At first, American wives were expected to be completely obedient to their husbands. As late as 1850, wife beating was legal in almost all of the states. Although both husbands and wives had family duties, the wife had no power in family matters other than that which her husband allowed her. Her possessions and any of her earnings belonged to her husband. During the nineteenth century women were not allowed to vote, a restriction that in part, reflected women’s status as servant to the family.

During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, opportunities for women to work outside the household increased. More wives were able to support themselves if necessary, and therefore were less likely to accept the traditional idea that wives were servants, and must obey their husbands. Even though the great majority of wives chose not to work outside the home, the fact they might do so, increased their power in the marriage. The husband could no longer make family decisions alone and demand that the wife follow them. The wife was freer to disagree with her husband and to insist that her views be taken into account in family decision.

Even though the wife’s power increased, the husband nevertheless remained the recognized head of the family. The wife became his full-time helper by taking care of his house and raising his children. She might strongly argue, and sometimes convince him, but his decision on family matters was usually final. This increase in equality of women in marriage reflected increased status for women in the society at large, and was a factor leading to the formation of women’s suffrage movements in the second half of the century, and eventually in 1920, to women gain the right to vote in America.