What must it take for us to be heard as we hear you? For many generations, women have been asking that question however they were treated like children, or even less human. They were and still to an extent considering incapable of making, political, financial, style, reproductive and educational choices that would be beneficial for their well being or family. The Women’s suffrage movement emerged, which fought for all the Women issue in society regardless of race and background.
According to the book “Women’s Suffrage In America” by ( Frost Knappman, E., and Cullen DuPont) In the beginning, of the 1800s when European travelers came to America noticed the lack of freedom that was given to the married couples versus single women. Europeans married women gave up all their rights and property to their husband.
The husband owned his wife wages and labor, clothing, household goods, and her inheritance. The husband can sell land mortgage or give away his wife’s belongings and also own her sexual rights. Throughout the 18th century, women continue to lose their rights and individuality.
According to the book Women’s Suffrage in America by Knappman, Elizabeth Frost, well throughout the 1800s women who were excluded from many things even their father’s wills. They were also considered incapable of spending their own money properly. Even divorce was difficult for women in the north and impossible for women in the south. Divorce was only given in extreme cases like extreme abuse, neglect, and adultery.
In the book, A History of the American Suffragist by Doris Weatherford discussed Siesta Falls that catapulted the movement forward. There is a story about a woman of Siesta Falls 1848 to 1849 they had a problem with the Declaration of Independence. When they read it they constantly kept seeing that you refer to “all men”.
They demanded that the rights enumerated in the Declaration of Independence apply to women as well as men. They changed apart that said, ”we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal and changed it to” we all hold these truths to be self-evident all men and women are created equal”.
The declaration of sentiments was followed by a list of the resolution demanding that women allowed to speak in public to be given equal treatment under the law. This declaration allows women of today to express and stand up to any injustice or issue that occur in society. Today women had a protest against equal pay, abortion, promotion, education much more that are not listed here. Women organization and supporter of the mid 18 century made their mission so that all gender can speak up and bring change in society.
On August 2nd, 1842 the meeting began and almost immediately a debate broke out about the wisdom of letting a woman chair in the meeting. They were told that their feeble voices and timid manners without the slightest knowledge of Cushing’s manual or the least experience in public meeting that a woman cannot possibly be able to hold the floor. The woman had no experience with public speaking so they were very shy and did not speak very loud until the crowd yelled “Louder! Louder!”.
They spoke up louder and they said: “Friends we present ourselves here before you as an oppressed class with trembling frames and flattering tongues and we do not expect to be heard by all at first…”. In the book, Women’s Suffrage Movement (Weatherford, Doris) their speech stress the raiser wages of laboring class and called for the equality of all women no matter the race.
From 1848 to 1849 women have made a monumental difference in society. As the years went by women like Susan B. Anthony, she joined daughters of temperance to work against the sale of liquor. Women’s rights leader Hannah Conant Tracy completes her studies in Oberlin college began her work in temperance peace and suffrage movements.
Jane Swisshelm starts an anti-slavery women’s rights newspaper in Pittsburgh calls the Saturday Visitor. Female doctors are officially allowed to practice in the United States. Harriet Tubman escaped slavery for freedom in Philadelphia where she becomes active and the underground railroad and the woman suffrage movement. Elizabeth Blackwell is the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States from Geneva College in New York.
A woman that was a part of the suffragist movement was Carrie Chapman Catt she said – “The vote is the emblem of your equality, women of America, the guarantee of your liberty. That vote of yours has cost millions of dollars and the lives of thousands of women. Money to carry on this work has been given usually as a sacrifice, and thousands of women have gone without things they wanted and could have had in order that they might help get the vote for you.
Women have suffered the agony of soul which you can never comprehend, that you and your daughters might inherit political freedom. That vote has been costly. Prize it! The vote is a power, a weapon of offense and defense, a prayer. Understand what it means and what it can do for your country. Use it intelligently, conscientiously, prayerfully”
The reason I come this quote was because when it was written it was inspirational to many women and at the same time is still relevant. It is still relevant to not just to women but to everyone that wants to make a difference in their community or even be heard themselves.
The married women’s property act is passed in New York. Just in these two years, it has been women born and women that forever changed how women are perceived in society. A woman wanted to have the right to vote they wanted to improve the educational opportunities that are provided too little girls. Women wanted to be able to protect, earn and inherited property. They wanted custody of their children when their spouse became abusive and some of them wanted political changes and not be thought of like her brother’s keeper.
Women were moving into areas That men once dominated occupied by and interestingly, this pattern was more noticeable in the western states during the years of suffrage movement than in the eastern and southern states. According to women’s enrollment in higher education and employment in the professions of law and medicine during the years of suffrage activity. Another way women presented themselves in a role that was traditionally for me was lobbying, however, women took on lobbying and other political efforts on the part of women’s groups as they molded social policy.
A number of such women’s groups existed during these years like the Consumers’ League, which lobbied legislatures to enact protective legislation for women and child laborers (McCammon 1995), and the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, which worked not only on protective laws but school and food.The progression of women also lead to them becoming landowners and eventually was able to open their own businesses. Women in the west inspired the rest of the nation to follow.
Stanton and Anthony form the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA), and Lucy Stone Henry Blackwell, Julia Ward Howe and Josephine Ruffin leader of the American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA).
Both organization which focuses their work on changing federal law and opposed the 15th Amendment on basis that it excluded women and other issues women face in society. Gradually as time goes on women continue to break through barriers and gain their right to vote, own property, well-paying job, freedom of dress, right to education and reproductive option. Due to the long fight and agonizing of women organizations, women are allowed to do more.
Most women today cannot imagine living during that time period, being that women in today’s society have almost an equal status to men, then women in the 18th century. Women in the 21st century can own property and be married, without it being transferred over to their husband. Their parents can leave wills to either of children. Divorce in today’s society is better constructed, either partner can file for divorce if they’re unhappy with their marriage.
With that being women in society appreciate all the Women and supporter who made this possible for all women today. Even though we have entered into the 20th-century women have yet to be seen as equal to men. They are not treated the same when it comes to wages, politically, or even when it comes to their sexual rights. Most men still have the notion that women are to be seen and not heard, however, they have just as much to contribute to the progression of the economy.
In conclusion, What must it take for us to be heard as we hear you? For many generations, women have been asking that question however they were treated like children, or even less human. They were and still to an extent considering incapable of making, political, financial, style, reproductive and educational choices that would be beneficial for their well being or family. The Women’s suffrage movement emerged, which improved the for many women growing up, however, women still have a way to go to become equal.
