less than 150 years ago, women in the united states were very much second-class citizens. they had few rights. they could not vote, sign contracts, or sit on juries. their opportunities in life were much more limited than were those of men. very few women had the opportunity to get anything more than the most basic education. many jobs were closed to them. women who did work received lower wages than men. when women married, their wages and their possessions became their husbands' property. many Americans accepted this situation as the natural relationship between men and women. However, some American women took steps to end gender discrimination. these women were the founders of the American women's movement, which held that the sexes were socially, politically, and economically equal.