The story of my personal independence, as a female in the twenty-first century, finds its sounds not in a singular moment, but in the rippling of a dramatic change – the American Revolution. The battlefield fighting of the American Revolution concluded centuries ago, but the rumbles of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"(US 1776) continue to shake my home, school, and workplace today. Female equality has been a journey with roads of ideals and events. It is still a journey with restraint from many who remain standing strong against societal constraints.

The American Revolution served as a beginning point for thoughts that would start the idea of individual opportunity. The concept of common rights inherent to all human beings, in any case of being man or woman was put to address. The words of philosophers such as John Locke, Isaac Newton, and Francois-Marie Arouet, investigated the rights to female uniformity. “God, in this text, gives not, that I see, any authority to Adam over Eve, or to men over their wives, but only foretells what should be the women’s lot, how by this providence he would order it so that she should be subject to her husband, as we see that generally the laws of mankind and customs of nations ordered…” (Locke, John). John Locke and several other philosophers during the seventeenth century acted as a seed to new ideals that still resonate today.

Philosophical works led to individual action, while women like Abigail Adams and Mercy Otis Warren also defied “normal” expectations by contributing to the war effort. These women managed businesses, ran farms, and even took up firearms, challenging the belief that women must be solely confined to their domestic role typically as “wife” and “mother”. Their actions, along with numerous others, slapped away at oppression and demonstrated the potential for females in roles that were outside the home.

However, the path to personal independence for women was, and sadly remains, far from smooth. The revolution did not immediately equate to universal equality. The ideals of liberty remained linked to hierarchical structures, and the newly formed republic did not keep its promise of freedom to all its citizens, particularly women. “Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the Ladies we are determined to foment a Rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation.” (Adams, Abigail). The fight for voting, economic opportunity, and equal rights became a long one, with continuous support from women who drew their battle inspiration from the examples of the Ms. Adams and others. 

The ideals from the American Revolution served as the fire for my own path of personal independence. I stand firmly and proudly protecting the right to control my own body, choose my career path, and participate in the public system thanks to the generations of women before me that fought for these liberties. These rights, though at times under threat, are my foundation. 

Despite the Bible stating “we are all from the same race- the human race.”(ESV Bible, Gen 1:26), the American Revolution was the great start for the battle for female rights, the battle my fellow females and I continue to fight. The endless battle proves that existing power structures still put specific groups, such as women, at an unfair disadvantage. For example, there remains a gender pay gap.  “In 2022, American women typically earned 82 cents for every dollar earned by men.  That was about the same as in 2002, when they earned 80 cents to the dollar.” (Aragao, Carolina). One reason that the narrowing of the gap remains slow is parenthood; women remaining in the housewife role, that was fought against, but expected of them during the American Revolution. Now and during the American Revolution, the goal of equality could only be achieved by collective efforts of individuals and groups. Both now and during the Revolution, opposition comes from people who benefit from those who fear losing power and/or privilege. This opposition sadly quiets the voices of some who are frightened to lose in the battle, but it will not silence mine.   

As a woman, female equality that has been fought since the American Revolution is a fight I stand behind and my voice fighting it will not be dampened. To fight for my right, I must educate myself by reading articles on female rights and reaching out to my local representatives to ask them to support equality. I can use advantages, such as social media access that wasn’t available during the Revolution, to voice my opinion and grow a group of like-minded individuals to advocate with me.  

Yes, the battle for freedom continues. My independence is linked with women past and present, part of a continuous conversation to ensure our freedom reaches every corner. The American Revolution may be a historical event, but it will forever live on in every woman who seeks to define her own path. It is in my belief that I, too, am deserving of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”(US 1776). It is in our human rights. My personal independence is a continuous work in progress, fueled by those before me, starting with my heroes from the American Revolution, who dreamt of a freer world.