Historical Overview of Women's Political Engagement and Changing Gender Norms

Women were actively involved in politics even prior to the formal suffrage movement.
A key historical reference point is given as before the year $1848$. The specific phrasing used is "the suffrage of women before the shot at the car back in $1848$".
Defining Political Engagement: Political involvement encompassed various activities beyond formal campaigns, including negotiating political plans "behind the scenes at different social functions."
Influence through Husbands: Women commonly exerted political influence by convincing "their husbands which politician to vote for."

Early Settlement Dynamics: In regions like the East, political participation was largely dominated by "earliest, like, sellers" who were mainly "white men." This environment contributed to the prevailing idea that women could not genuinely participate in politics, reflecting "previous generations" of societal views.
Southern Involvement: Women in "the South" were also identified as being involved in political processes.

Embracing New Lifestyles: Over time, some women rejected conventional gender norms and embraced a "freer, more frivolous lifestyle."
Rejection of Stereotypes: These women explicitly "rejected the rigid gender stereotype" prevalent in earlier generations.
The Term 'Slapper': The term "slapper" was associated with women who adopted this non-conforming lifestyle, indicating a departure from traditional expectations.