Contributions of Women Abolitionists

783 Words2 Pages

The Abolitionist Movement transformed the role of women in American History. Prior to the abolitionist movement, women were viewed as invisible icons in society. A typical woman would only be responsible for motherhood duties, cleaning, and preparing food. While many women agreed with this, others did not. The desire to be heard and treated equally was something numerous women shared. Astonishing women like, Sojourner Truth, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Grimke sisters became prominent leaders in the abolitionist movement and made a pathway in history by initiating speeches, participating in female politics and supporting their personal opinions of women’s rights through religious doctrines.
Sojourner Truth, an African American woman and former slave, fights a double war within winning her rights. The fact that Truth is an African American female put an addition strain on her journey. Truth traveled thousands of miles giving speeches against slavery and for women’s rights. In 1851, Truth gave her famous speech, “Ain’t I a Woman” at the Women’s Convention. In her speech, she attacked the idea of women and blacks being inferior. Truth used her personal experiences to describe the discrimination she faced as a black, ex-slave woman. Truth’s main objective through her speech was to show how she is equal to any man. She declared,
“Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well!”
Truth connects women’s rights and abolition by defining a woman as a man’s equal by including examples of her experiences. Truth concludes her speech, “If the first woman God ever made...

... middle of paper ...

...rights through religious doctrines helped to get their philosophy understood by the people. Women fought against sexism and racists but still remained confidant and ended up pursuing their dreams of being free.

Bibliography

Grimke, Sojourner. On Women’s Rights. in Interpreting the American Past, ed. Luke Stowell Norfolk: Old Dominion University, 2013
Stanton, Elizabeth Cady. Declaration of Sentiments of the Seneca Falls Convention. in Interpreting the American Past, ed. Luke Stowell Norfolk: Old Dominion University, 2013
Teachushistory.org. "Sarah Grimké Argues for Women's Rights | Teach US History." 2013. http://www.teachushistory.org/second-great-awakening-age-reform/resources/sarah-grimke-argues-womens-rights (accessed 21 Nov 2013).
Truth, Sojourner. Ain’t I a Woman. in Interpreting the American Past, ed. Luke Stowell Norfolk: Old Dominion University, 2013

Open Document