by Stephanie Davis

Created on: December 17, 2010   Last Updated: December 21, 2010

Women have been the subject of stereotypes for centuries and have evolved dramatically over the past century.The women's liberation movement of the 1960s and 1970s did alot to change the stereotypes of women. Before this movement women have traditionally been thought of as the weaker sex, who needed to be protected and provided for by men. Their place was to be in the home cooking, cleaning and raising the children, while their husbands went to work. The few women that did work outside of the home were often limited to what occupations deemed appropriate for their gender. This would have included teaching, nursing and clerical positions which traditionally were considered suitable for women.  Certainly, while women were expected to be demure, submissive and to know their place, men did treat them according to a code of chivalry due them because of their sex. Men would open doors, carry heavy packages and pay a ladies expenses on dates. This was treatment was expected by most women of the pre women's lib movement.

The women's liberation movement by many is credited with the invention of the birth control pill, which freed women from fear of pregnancy and to embrace their sexuality outside the confines of marriage. Along with this came the concept of women entering traditionally male dominated fields like medicine, science and engineering. Women burned their bras and demanded to be treated equally to men in every aspect.  They no longer wanted men to be chivalrous as it was seen as a sign of women's subjugation to a man. In 1973 Roe v Wade affirmed a woman's right to control over her reproductive rights and access to legal abortion. Despite these small victories women were still the subject of earlier stereotypes that had prevailed for centuries. 

Since the women's liberation movement a blend of both traditional and liberal sterotypes have been attributed to women. Today women are lumped into one of three categories. The first is the women that believe that a woman's place is in the home and that men are to be the leaders of the home and community.  The importance of being wives and mothers is a core part of their identity as women. These women are often very religious and believe they are fulfilling the role that God ordained for them. The second is the feminist, those who believe that a woman cannot be fulfilled unless she has a career outside the home and believe they are equally to a man in every aspect. They do not like men opening doors

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