American History

13 Things Women Weren’t Allowed to Do 100+ Years Ago

Trista - May 30, 2025

Just over a century ago, women’s lives were profoundly different from today, marked by restrictive societal norms and systemic inequalities. From being denied the basic right to vote to limitations on employment and education, women faced significant barriers in everyday life. However, courageous pioneers challenged these restrictions, sparking movements like women’s suffrage that gradually reshaped societies worldwide. Reflecting on these historical limitations not only highlights the resilience of women but also emphasizes the importance of continued advocacy for equality. Here, we uncover thirteen surprising things women were barred from doing over a hundred years ago, underscoring how dramatically women’s rights and roles have evolved.

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1. Vote in Elections

Before the early 20th century, women around the globe were largely excluded from participating in political decisions through voting. In the United States, it wasn’t until the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920 that women nationwide secured the right to vote. Even earlier, countries like New Zealand broke ground by granting women voting rights in 1893, while others lagged significantly behind—Switzerland, for example, waited until 1971 to enfranchise women at the federal level. These disparities highlight how hard-fought and gradual the global movement for women’s suffrage was, marking a pivotal turning point in gender equality history.

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2. Own Property Independently

A century ago, women faced significant obstacles in owning property independently, especially after marriage. Under the traditional legal principle of coverture, women’s property rights were typically transferred to their husbands upon marriage, effectively stripping them of financial autonomy. Change began with pivotal reforms such as the Married Women’s Property Acts, first introduced in the United Kingdom in 1870 and subsequently adopted across various U.S. states throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These laws gradually allowed married women to maintain ownership and control of their own assets, marking a crucial step toward economic independence and equality.

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3. Hold a Bank Account or Credit in Their Own Name

For much of history, women faced substantial restrictions managing their personal finances. Banks often required a husband’s or male relative’s approval before allowing a woman to open an account or obtain credit. In the United States, this changed significantly with the passage of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act in 1974, which prohibited financial institutions from discriminating against applicants based on gender or marital status. Prior to this, women struggled to build credit histories independently, severely limiting their economic freedom. This landmark legislation granted women the autonomy to control their own financial decisions for the first time.

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4. Pursue Higher Education Freely

Historically, women’s access to higher education was severely limited, with many universities refusing to admit female students altogether. Institutions that pioneered women’s education, such as Oberlin College in Ohio—one of the first to admit women in 1837—and Mount Holyoke College, founded exclusively for women that same year, were remarkable exceptions. Even then, curricula for women often emphasized domestic skills over rigorous academics. It wasn’t until the late 19th and early 20th centuries that significant numbers of universities began opening their doors to women, finally allowing generations of female scholars and professionals to flourish academically and professionally.

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5. Serve on a Jury

Until relatively recently, women were routinely excluded from jury duty, under the assumption that their presence would disrupt courtroom proceedings or domestic responsibilities. This exclusion significantly limited women’s participation in civic life and decision-making processes. In the United States, it wasn’t until the landmark Supreme Court case Taylor v. Louisiana (1975) that women’s inclusion in juries was federally mandated, affirming their constitutional right to serve. Prior to this ruling, many states either barred women entirely or allowed them to opt out easily. This decision reinforced the principle that juries must represent a fair cross-section of the community, recognizing women’s vital role in the justice system.

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6. Practice Law or Medicine

Historically, women were systematically excluded from prestigious professions like law and medicine, often facing legal and institutional barriers to entry. It took pioneering figures such as Elizabeth Blackwell, who became America’s first licensed female physician in 1849, and Arabella Mansfield, who was admitted as the first female lawyer in the U.S. in 1869, to break these rigid gender boundaries. Even after these initial breakthroughs, women continued to face skepticism and prejudice, limiting their professional growth and opportunities. Their courageous efforts, however, paved the way for countless women to pursue careers in medicine and law, fundamentally changing these fields forever.

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7. Marry or Divorce Freely

A century ago, women’s autonomy in matters of marriage and divorce was heavily restricted, often leaving them with little choice or recourse. Marriages were frequently arranged or heavily influenced by family and societal expectations, while divorce was stigmatized and legally challenging for women to obtain. Gradually, significant legislative developments emerged—such as the introduction of no-fault divorce laws in the late 20th century—that allowed women greater freedom to end unhappy or abusive marriages. These reforms represented a fundamental shift, empowering women to make personal decisions about their relationships and dramatically reshaping societal attitudes towards marriage and divorce.

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8. Participate Publicly in Politics

For centuries, women were largely excluded from political leadership and public office, their voices absent from critical decision-making arenas. Even after gaining voting rights, societal barriers continued to limit women’s political ambitions. Pioneering figures such as Jeannette Rankin, who became the first woman elected to the U.S. Congress in 1916, and Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka, the world’s first female prime minister in 1960, shattered these entrenched barriers. Their groundbreaking achievements helped break stereotypes, paving the way for increased female representation in politics worldwide and advancing the cause of gender equality in governance and policy-making.

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9. Wear Certain Clothing Styles

A hundred years ago, women’s fashion choices were strictly governed by societal expectations and rigid dress codes. Clothing such as trousers or shorter skirts was considered scandalous or inappropriate, limiting women’s mobility and comfort. Movements advocating dress reform emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, challenging restrictive garments like corsets and long skirts. Women such as Amelia Bloomer, who popularized practical “bloomers,” and fashion icon Coco Chanel, who introduced simpler, more comfortable clothing, boldly defied conventional norms. Their influence gradually shifted public attitudes, granting women greater freedom to express themselves through fashion and redefining societal perceptions of femininity.

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10. Compete in Major Sporting Events

Historically, women were largely barred from participating in major competitive sporting events, reflecting societal views that deemed sports unsuitable or unsafe for women. Even at international competitions like the Olympics, women initially had minimal representation, with female athletes competing for the first time only in the 1900 Paris Games. Trailblazers such as Kathrine Switzer, who famously challenged gender barriers by officially running the Boston Marathon in 1967 despite attempts to physically remove her, helped reshape perceptions of women’s athletic abilities. These courageous acts of defiance opened doors, significantly expanding women’s access and opportunities in professional sports worldwide.

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11. Join Military Forces Officially

For much of history, women were barred from officially serving in military forces, restricted instead to supporting roles such as nursing or administrative duties. Major global conflicts, notably World War I and World War II, saw women’s roles gradually expand as their contributions became increasingly vital. Organizations like the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) in the United States and Britain’s Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) marked early official recognition of female military personnel. Over time, these pioneering efforts led to greater integration, enabling women to serve in diverse capacities and, eventually, frontline combat roles in modern militaries worldwide.

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12. Travel Alone Without Male Companion

A century ago, societal norms and sometimes even legal restrictions heavily discouraged women from traveling alone without a male escort. Independent travel for women was often viewed as improper or unsafe, limiting their freedom of movement and exploration. Yet, adventurous pioneers like journalist Nellie Bly, who famously traveled around the world solo in just 72 days, defied these constraints. Similarly, explorers like Isabella Bird broke convention by journeying extensively through remote regions alone. Their courage and determination helped challenge prevailing attitudes, gradually making independent travel for women socially acceptable and inspiring generations of female travelers to follow.

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13. Work After Marriage or Motherhood

Historically, married women and mothers faced intense societal pressure—and sometimes legal restrictions—that discouraged or outright prevented them from working outside the home. Employment policies frequently mandated resignation upon marriage or pregnancy, reflecting beliefs that women should prioritize domestic duties. Legal and cultural shifts, particularly during the mid-20th century, began dismantling these barriers. Laws such as the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964 and subsequent amendments prohibited workplace discrimination based on gender, marital status, or pregnancy. These changes empowered women to pursue professional ambitions freely, fundamentally transforming the modern workforce and redefining traditional family roles.

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Conclusion

Reflecting on these historical restrictions vividly illustrates just how far women’s rights and societal roles have progressed over the past century. While significant strides toward gender equality have undoubtedly been made, ongoing challenges—such as wage disparities, underrepresentation in leadership, and persistent social expectations—remain prevalent worldwide. Understanding and appreciating this history inspires us to continue advocating for equal opportunity and rights for all women. By actively supporting gender equality initiatives and policies, we can ensure that future generations live in a society where limitations based on gender are entirely relegated to history.

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