The very word "woman" (O Engl wifman) etymologically meaning a wife, sums up a long history of dependence and subordination, from which the women of to-day have only gradually emancipated  themselves in such parts of the world as come under "Western Civilization."  Though married life and its duties necessarily form a predominant element in the women's sphere, they are not necessarily the whole of it; and the 'women's movement' is essentially a struggle for the recognition of equality of opportunity with men, and for equal rights irrespective of sex, even if a woman willingly enters into a marriage.  WOMEN'S RIGHTS THROUGH THE AGES. CLICK HERE. The whole idea of women's position in social life, and their ability to take their place, independently of any question in sex, in the work of the world, was radically changed in the English-speaking countries, and also in the more progressive countries outside their bounds, during the 19^th century.  This is due primarily to the movement for women's higher education and its results.  To deal in detail with this movement in various countries would take too long, but in any case, the change is so complete that the only curious thing now is, not what spheres women may  enter, but the few from which they are excluded.  DETAILS WOMEN'S RIGHTS IN ENGLAND: CLICK HERE. Today, women in England may fill some of the highest positions in the state. A woman may be queen, or a regent, and as a queen regent has full rights as a king. Among the public offices a woman may hold are those of county, borough, parish and rural or urban district councillor, overseer, guardian of the poor, church warden and sexton. In 1908 Mrs. Garrett Anderson was elected Mayor of Aldeburgh, the first case of a woman holding such a position.  Women have also been nominated as members of Royal Commissions. A woman cannot serve on a jury, but may, if married, be one of a 'jury of matrons' empanelled to determine the condition of a female prisoner. A woman can vote (if unmarried or a widow) in a county council, municipal, poor law, and other local elections. The granting of the parliamentary franchise to women was, however, still withheld in 1910. DETAILS ON THE WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT CLICK.