The idealized 19th century American dream is a two-story house that housed two children, their parents, a cat and a dog with a car or two sitting in front and reliable. a job for one or both parents. This lifestyle required a higher income for many families, and as the second parent took to work, it became clear that a man trying to support his family alone in the 19th and 20th centuries could do so. much more easily than a woman. Laws were passed, movements took place, women protested for equal pay, equal hours, and equal opportunities. They succeeded. Yet the question is, have they been successful enough? Is it enough to be legally able to get almost every job for a man even if fewer women take advantage of the opportunities? Is it enough that women can achieve the career goals they want without limitation if they have the will to succeed? In the past, women's career options were limited, but in 21st century America, this is not the case, as only a woman's abilities limit her career opportunities. Lucy Stone's speech "Disappointment is the Lot of Women", which she gave in 1848, set the tone as the fight for women's rights began and women had very limited rights. Stone made a logical argument that it was practical for women to have greater employment rights. At that time, women could only be teachers, seamstresses and housekeepers and, at best, these jobs were paid 14 cents per day, which, accounting for inflation, is less than half the minimum hourly wage current. ("CPI") In his speech, Stone uses the fact that a woman's salary is incapable of supporting a person to argue: "Woman must marry to have a home, and you men , suffer from it; for a woman who hates you can marry you because...... middle of paper ......s.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/education/cb11-72.html>.Stone, Lucy. “Disappointment is a woman’s lot.” Speech. Women's Rights Convention. Seneca Falls. October 17 or 18, 1855. Bpi.org. Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. Internet. March 1, 2014. .Taylor, Paul, Wendy Wang and Kim Parker. “Breadwinner Moms.” Pew Research Social and Demographic Trends. Np, May 29, 2013. Web. February 17, 2014. “Women in construction”. Safety and health topics. United States Department of Labor, nd Web. February 17, 2014. “Women’s Rights Timeline.” Annenbergclassroom.org. Leonore Annenberg Institute of Civic Education, nd Web. February 17. 2014.