Historically, women have been classified as inferior to men in society. But, which is truly the inferior sex? Women have fought for their civil rights throughout the American generations. In 1920, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was signed into law granting women the right to vote. This right was the primary goal of the National Woman Suffrage Association, founded by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton in 1869. Our place in society has also been viewed as in the home and not in the workplace. For some people this view still remains.Women were mostly seen as the givers of life until the gaining use of contraceptives, giving more choices for women to wait to start a family and have careers and an education. Contraceptives freed women from the pressure of becoming wives and mothers and gave way for dreams and ambitions. In 1903, the National Women’s Trade Union League was established to advocate for improved wages and working conditions for women. In 1960, the Food and Drug Administration approved birth control pills. Through the growing rate of contraceptives, more women were seen in the workplace and thus new laws had to be passed to accommodate to this growth. In 1963, Congress passed the Equal Pay Act, making it illegal for employers to pay a woman less than what a man would receive for the same job. These rights that women have had to fight for were sought out through the approval of men. Why? Is it because our country was founded by men, not women? And if given the right to explore unmarked territories in history, would a woman have been able to find America before a man?That very fact might have changed the course of history. These questions cannot be answered but they do make you think. When did women become the inferior sex? Women give men life and yet they are viewed as inferior. A man could never imagine the pain childbirth brings. What have men fought for that doesn’t pertain to war and territories? Nothing has been given to women on a silver platter. Women are still fighting for equal rights in other countries. It feels like an on going fight between genders that might not ever be settled throughout the world. Today, women fight a virus called human papillomavirus. There are more than 100 different strains or types and more than 30 of these viruses are sexually transmitted. There is no way to tell who or what a woman can develop it from. There is no test for men with this virus and a woman can develop it on her own after becoming sexually active.

This virus can also linger on the skin of the penis, vulva (area outside the vagina), or anus, and the linings of the vagina, cervix or rectum for years without any signs. This virus has had no effect on men, whereas women can develop cervical cancer. There is no general test for HPV but it can be identified through PAP tests. According to Merick & Co., Inc.,Gardasil is the only cervical cancer vaccine that helps protect against 4 types of high-risk HPV(6, 11, 16, 18). Women have proven throughout history to overcome and preserver though many challenges set before them. This not only is seen though rights obtained and fought for, but now as new developments form so do new challenges to overcome. Women are strong creatures and are rarely seen as such, even with the coming of generations and the expansion of ideas. But, which is the weaker sex? Or are they equal in strength in their own unique characteristics?

Hillary Geieger can be reached at [email protected]