For ages, women have left their mark on the world, at times changing the course of history and influencing small but substantial spheres of life. Only in the past century, however, have concerted efforts been made to represent women's contributions more fully in history books. Consequently, changes in status for many women in modern times the right to own property, to vote, and to choose their own careers—may obscure the accomplishments made by women of earlier eras. Women all over the world have taken their own paths, changing or living with their cultural status in their societies. Generally women have lived protected, restricted, secluded lives. Somewhat recently (with the start of an organized women’s rights movement in the 1840s) women have begun to spread their views to the rest of the world and take a unified stand. In the 1840s, women’s rights movements began in the United States, Western Europe, and New Zealand, and quickly began to influence the entire world. As women’s suffrage was granted in New Zealand, then other countries, women in many places pushed their ideas even more strongly. The women of industrialized countries banded together and made changes in their societies, but many underdeveloped countries were only somewhat influenced. Changes spread throughout the modern world, and countries began to care more and more about how other governments treated their people. Programs were set up, by the most influential countries, the United Nations, and some non-governmental organizations to influence other governments, especially those of third world countries where women are treated rather poorly, and to promote women’s and human’s rights. Today changes in women’s rights are still taking place everywhere, and each culture still has a very unique way of treatment of women. In some countries women are legally equals, in others they have almost no rights. But now the whole world is aware of women’s rights issues, and societies all over the world will decide when and if they want to change the position of their women.