Gender roles in the period in which British literature was written were very important to women's history. Women were subservient to men in most British literature. Some women in literature had a little more power than others. When women were asked to do something by a man there was no way they could say no. the way women were treated back then is equivalent to that of a housewife today in the twenty-first century. When a man told them to do something, they had to do it. Throughout literature women began to desire more respect and power. A great example of a woman who has overcome gender roles is Susan B. Anthony. She was born February 15, 1820, in Adams, Massachusetts. Susan B. Anthony taught for fifteen years then decided to join the women's rights movement. Subsequently he committed himself and dedicated himself to auspicious suffrage. Susan B Anthony remained very active in everything to do with women until her death on March 13, 1906. Another example is Elizabeth Cady Stanton, born November 12, 1815 in Johnstown, New York. Throughout her life she supported women's rights with the women's rights movement and Susan B Anthony. She was president of the National Women's Suffrage Association (NWSA) for 20 years. She died a highly respected and honorable woman on October 26, 1902. These women truly changed the game for women in the past. These women were very important representatives in the women's rights movement. They helped a lot and dedicated a lot of time in their lives to make sure women got to where we are today. They were huge role models for women today. Although women had to fight to gain our rights, British literature expected women to be subservient to men. I'm going... halfway down the page... Literature.Genied.Stephen Greenblatt. 9th ed.vol A. New York: Norton. 41-108.Print.Bryan E. Conversion and canversion The role and function of women in post-medieval Icelandic folktales. Sandinawain Studies 83.2(2011): 165-190. Academic research completed. Network. March 21, 2014.CLIFT, ELEANOR. "When women said 'No'." Newsweek 160.27 (2012): 44-50. Academic research completed. Network. 1 April 2014.Ibnouf, Fatma Osman. “Women and the Arab Spring”. International journal Women and environments 92/93 (2013): 18-21. MasterFILE Elite.Web.31 March 2014.Shakespeare, William. The tragedy of Macbeth. Orlando, FL.: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2005. Print. Shmoop Editorial Team. “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Order Rules and Quotes Page 3.” Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., November 11, 2008. Web. April 1, 2014. Rossetti, Christina. “Goblin Market”. Poetry X. Ed. Jough Dempsey. September 27 2004.