Throughout 19th century Europe and into the 20th century, the division and integration of equal rights and freedoms towards both sexes was a predominant issue . From the 1860s onwards, male suffrage was expanding due to working class activism and liberal constitutionalism, yet women were not included in any political participation and were rejected from many opportunities in the workforce. They were considered second-class citizens, expected to limit their sphere of influence to home and family, and therefore not encouraged to pursue an advantageous education or career. Since they were seen as weak entities, the only way they were able to defend their interests and dissatisfaction was through their own independent organizations and forms of direct action. Thanks to hard work aimed at improving women's involvement in the world of work and political empowerment, femininity has gradually been redefined. When looking back at these crucial moments in history, it is necessary to see how the various images and ideas of women represented such integral symbols in modern Europe that they influenced the crucial changes they managed to propose. Previous photos show women in society exclusively conforming to what society wants them to be, however later these changes and images of women go against what is considered appropriate and publicize the efforts made towards gender equality. As for the home front of 19th century Europe, women were “the cult of domesticity” and were highly regarded as wives, mothers and part of the working class. A high character was needed to complete the demanding tasks surrounding domestic life. Images of women ranging from newspapers to fine art all showed the univ...... middle of paper ......e of the women who defined nineteenth-century femininity, as they rejected the cultural norms that previously they defined them. Photos of women shown working in the clerical field, wearing voluminous pants with short skirts, smoking cigarettes, and enjoying social outings empowered conservative women to follow who may have originally rejected these new values. For the most part, these new symbols were the representation of the ultimate social and political emancipation for women. Images of women throughout the 18th and 19th centuries shaped women's views on their lives in the workplace, at home, and in politics, and also encouraged change for them as individuals. Although women are often seen as weak individuals who have less influence on society, artistic evaluations and various writings throughout history have successfully proven otherwise..