Jess grew up in Oklahoma before moving to New York to become a writer. She has a cat named Agnes.

In school, we all learned about how hard women worked to earn their right to vote during the suffrage movement, before the constitutional amendment was finally passed in 1920.


But that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to an entire gender being faced with oppression over the years.

We’re obviously still battling against several issues today, but seeing the things my mother and grandmother were forced to endure has really opened my eyes. I mean, I always knew things were different back in the day, but I can’t believe how long it took for a wife to not be legally classified as “subordinate” to her husband — much less, how difficult it was for a single gal to get her own bank account and credit card.


Take a look to see just how many surprising things women weren’t allowed to do back in the day.

Be sure to SHARE the look back at history with your friends!