Bien Logo

5 Things Women Couldn't Do 100 Years Ago

Nyul Debóra2 min read
Share:
5 Things Women Couldn't Do 100 Years Ago — Lifestyle
In this article

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

LifestyleMind & soul

Related reads

Why Women Say Yes to Almost Everything at Work — and How to Finally Break the Habit — Lifestyle

Why Women Say Yes to Almost Everything at Work — and How to Finally Break the Habit

Saying yes to everything at work feels safe — but it's quietly draining you. Here's why so many women struggle to say no, and how to change that for good.

Farkas Izabella•
The spiritual awakening your birth month is quietly preparing you for — Lifestyle

The spiritual awakening your birth month is quietly preparing you for

Your birth month may hint at the exact kind of inner shift waiting for you — the moment, loss, or breakthrough that finally wakes something up inside.

Nyul Debóra•
Aging gives me more than it takes away — why getting older set me free — Lifestyle

Aging gives me more than it takes away — why getting older set me free

Society has a lot of opinions about how women should age. Here's why I stopped listening — and why getting older has been the most liberating thing that's happened to me.

Schuster Borka•
Why You Keep Dreaming About School Years Later — and What It Really Says About You — Lifestyle

Why You Keep Dreaming About School Years Later — and What It Really Says About You

You left school decades ago, so why does that anxious exam dream keep coming back? Psychology says it's not about your past — it's about your present.

Nyul Debóra•
5 small changes that made my summer afternoons slower, calmer and so much happier — Lifestyle

5 small changes that made my summer afternoons slower, calmer and so much happier

My summer afternoons used to slip away in a blur of tasks. These five simple, mindful habits helped me slow down and finally enjoy the moments again.

Nyul Debóra•
The 5 most independent zodiac signs — women who never need anyone's approval — Lifestyle

The 5 most independent zodiac signs — women who never need anyone's approval

Some women are simply built differently — fiercely self-reliant and driven entirely from within. Astrology says these 5 signs lead the way.

Farkas Izabella•