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5 Things Women Couldn't Do 100 Years Ago

Nyul Debóra2 min read
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5 Things Women Couldn't Do 100 Years Ago — Lifestyle
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Shopping Alone

Shopping Alone
Can you imagine not having the right to shop alone as an adult woman? In parts of the 19th century, this was exactly the case: women were expected to be accompanied by a man whenever they left home. This only started to change seriously in the late 1800s with the rise of department stores designed as safe spaces for women venturing out solo.

Photo: istockphoto.com/duncan1890

Voting Rights

Voting Rights
Today, it’s normal to vote once you turn 18—unless you’re disenfranchised. But in the early 1900s, women were far from equal and often excluded from voting. Some places allowed women to vote only after 21, others not until 30. Hungary granted equal, secret voting rights in 1945, initially at age 20, later lowered to 18.

Photo: everett225/depositphotos.com

Access to Birth Control Pills

Access to Birth Control Pills
Nowadays, getting birth control pills or hormonal treatments usually just means visiting a gynecologist for a routine checkup. But it wasn’t always this easy. The first birth control pill was approved only in 1960. Before that, women relied on devices like IUDs and condoms—mostly distributed by men.

In 1916, activist Margaret Sanger opened the first birth control clinic in the U.S. Despite being arrested nine days later, she kept fighting for women’s right to decide if and when to have children. Her determination paved the way for the reproductive freedoms we benefit from today.

Photo: Geroge Marks/istockphoto.com

Keeping Your Maiden Name

Keeping Your Maiden Name
Today, many women choose to keep their maiden names after marriage without judgment. But in the past, this choice could have serious consequences. Society frowned upon it, and in some places, employers even withheld paychecks from women who didn’t take their husband’s surname.

Photo: everett225/depositphotos.com

Smoking in Public

Smoking in Public
Smoking is harmful, and today it’s regulated for everyone. But no one questions whether a man or woman lights up. A century ago, men could smoke almost anywhere, but women smoking in public faced harsh judgment.

In 1908, New York even passed a law banning women from smoking in public buildings. The backlash was so strong the mayor vetoed it within two weeks. This helped society become more accepting, realizing a woman smoking publicly isn’t any bigger a deal than a man doing so.

Source: rd.com

Photo: everett225/depositphotos.com

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