A Lady: Today and Yesterday

Paper Summary:

This paper studies the changes women have accomplished through feminism during the early 20th century to today, using the play/book Ragtime as an example of one of the portrayals of women of the time. A comparison of the ideals of women of the early 20th century dealing with feminism using Emma Goldman and her events throughout her life as well as how she is portrayed as a character in the play/book Ragtime, with current female social standing with Gloria Steinem as a representative revealing some of her ideals paralleling to Goldman's.

From the Paper:

"Although not an era of radical change, the first ten years of the twentieth century contain a myriad of indications of future transformations. This has proved to be true through the actions and efforts of early feminists as well as today's. More and more women felt free to choose library work, social work, medicine, and business as a life's profession in lieu of marriage. In many ways, this century was a new millennium that held special hope and promise for all American women, and they met its challenges with courage, creativity, and conviction. E.L. Doctorow, in his novel Ragtime, demonstrated the transition of women from delicate dependent wives to idealistic, empowered persons during the early twentieth century. Emma Goldman's inspiring speeches impacted the characters in Ragtime, and their ideals are parallel to current feminists such as Gloria Steinem."

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