Women in the History of the American West
The women of the American West were involved in political activism, running for office, and social reform movements throughout their history. Women of diverse races, ethnicities and cultures were united by a common thread, one that existed amidst unequal power relations with men. Women in the American West were forced to define themselves on their own terms, ones that largely conflicted with the political and cultural roles defined by the patriarchy. Such women often forged new roles for themselves and expanded womenÆs power, from Sacagawea who pushed the female presence into a male-dominated occupation to political leadership offered by the likes of Mary Shields and countless other women.
Women also ran for politics but in the nineteenth century they typically entered political arenas in which they had the most experience or power. Frontier women largely championed education and the occupation of teacher, though paying a lower salary than most men would accept, permitted single women to make the journey West. The journey West itself represented an expansion of womenÆs freedom as well as forcing them to become more engaged as a source of labor. In Denver in 1891, a Mrs. Saxton failed to win a position on the school board because she entered the campaign late but it taught women that more than intentions were needed to win political contests.
With Populist support, prohibition activist support, and a growing number of Western states giving women the vote (Wyoming territory, Utah territory and Colorado and Idaho) would soon force Eastern states to do the same. Women were also involved politically in agrarian reforms while expanding their power in the work place. Mary Elizabeth Lease was active in the movement for agrarian reform in Kansas, while Fabiola Cabeza de Baca worked as a government agent and helped map the West. Women also expanded their presence outside the home ...