Since the beginning of the 17th-century and earlier, there has always been different perspectives on women 's rights. Men and women all over the world have voiced their opinion and position in regard to the rights of women. This holds especially true in the United States during the 18th and 19th century. As women campaigned for equality, there were some who opposed this idea. There was, and always will be a series of arguments on behalf of women 's rights. Anti-women 's rights activists such as Dr. John Todd and Pro-women 's rights activist Gail Hamilton argued intelligently and tactfully on the topic. There were many key arguments made against women’s rights by Dr. John Todd, and Gail Hamilton 's rebuttal was graceful and on par with her male counterpart. Let 's examine some of Dr. John 's arguments against women 's equality. Although Dr. John argued against women equality, he did admit that the mind of a woman was sharp or even sharper than some men. He also states that the female mind is “quicker, more flexible, more elastic” than the male brain. Even though Dr. John gives few praises to women, he still holds fast to his position of women 's rights. Mr. Todd believes that God never designed women to be independent of man and that her own instincts would get in the way of her independence. He argued and insisted that women cannot invent. He says that men are inventing all types of things in the current age, such as telegraphing, railroads, steamboats, and machinery. The United States Patent Office receives about five hundred or more applications per week, but they never receive any from women. Mr. Todd takes this fact a step further by stating that women have machines almost numberless, knitting machines, washing, ironing, and... ... middle of paper ... ...e no female Newtons and La Places. I think Gail’s effectivity in refuting Dr. Todd’s arguments laid in relevancy. It should not matter that women were not inventors, because most men were not inventors. Gail even questioned Dr. Todd’s status as an inventor and makes him seem like a hypocrite. More than likely over half the male population of United States were not inventors. She claimed relevancy again when Dr. Todd asked why women weren’t Newtons and La Places. Again, Dr. Todd and over half of the American population were not mathematicians and still had certain rights. Again, she turns him into a hypocrite. Mr. Todd is not a mathematicians. In regards to earning property I think she handled the argument very well by simply stating that women did earn property throughout their role of mother and wife. In all she effectively refuted all major arguments of Dr. Todd.
However, the writers of the Constitution had omitted women in that pivotal statement which left women to be denied these “unalienable” rights given to every countryman. Gaining the support of many, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the leader of the Women’s Rights Movement declared at Seneca Falls that women had the same rights as men including the right to vote and be a part of government. The Women’s Rights movement gained support due to the years of abuse women endured. For years, men had “the power to chastise and imprison his wife…” and they were tired of suffering (Doc I). The new concept of the cult of domesticity supported women’s roles in society but created greater divisions between men and women.
The division between what a woman and man can and cannot do is just a barrier our society has set. There are no limits to what each sexuality is capable of doing. A man is not more intelligent, more creative, wiser, or stronger than a female. Likewise he is never less. All humans are given these rights. Lucille Clifton ignored what her society had to offer and continued with what she believed. She is a fearless, strong individual who was ready to take on the world with her hips coming first.
In his novel, Cantor's Dilemma, Dr. Djerassi uses female characters to address sexist issues arising from women integrating into the predominantly male science world. The characters, Celestine Price and Professor Arderly, are used to show examples of how women have little voice in the field of science. The female characters suggest how women are often looked upon as sex objects rather than co-workers and they are given little opportunity to balance a scientific career with raising a family. By weaving these issues into his novel, Dr. Djerassi illustrates the following theme: Discrimination against women in the field of science is harmful to the progression of scientific exploration. If women are excluded from science, then an artificial limit is put on human resources. (The field of science will not utilize the potential female minds available.)
John Todd and Gail Hamilton both wrote their views on women rights, both have different viewpoints and are still controversial today. John Todd is heavily influenced by his religious beliefs and is much more conservative in his thinking. Gail Hamilton refutes Todd's views on the subject, which at the time of writing was something very uncommon. John Todd starts his writing off with the topic of equality between men and women. He begins his paper with, “Nobody pretends that the sexes are equal in weight, in height, or in bodily strength.
The contentious little book titled Women, Power, Politics maintains politics to be devalued, acknowledging the fact that only few people do vote, and women are unable to achieve within the realm of Canadian politics. Sylvia Bashevkin, the author of the book argues that Canadians have a profound unease with women in positions of political authority, what she calls the "women plus power equals discomfort" equation. She evaluates a range of barriers faced by women who enter politics, including the media's biased role of representing the private lives of women in politics, and she wonders why citizens find politics is underrepresented in Canada compared to Belgium. In clear, accessible terms, Bashevkin explains her ideas on how to eliminate “low voters turn-out,” “devaluation of politics,” "gender schemas," and "media framing.” She outlines some compelling solutions to address the stalemate facing women in Canadian politics which are; contesting media portrayals, changing the rule of the game, improving legislative quotas, electoral reform, movement renewals, and so on. This response paper would addresses the reality of a political mainstream, actions which should be taken against the oppressive elements of reality, and the awareness it brings through economic, social, and political environment.
Jane Addams was an upper class woman who thought it was her job to help others. Addams was an advocate of immigrants, the poor, women, and peace. In 1889, she created the Hull House, to help female immigrants become assimilated to the American lifestyle by helping them get a job, learn the language, and receive an education. It was no surprise that in 1915, Jane Addams wrote the life-changing article “Why Women Should Vote.”
The nineteenth century encountered some of most revolutionary movements in the history of our nation, and of the world – the movements to abolish slavery and the movement for women’s rights. Many women participated alongside men in the movement to abolish slavery, and “their experience inspired feminist social reformers to seek equality with men” (Bentley, Ziegler, and Streets-Salter 2015, pg. 654). Their involvement in the abolition movement revealed that women suffered many of the same legal disadvantages as slaves, most noticeably their inability to access the right to vote. Up until this time, women had little success in mobilizing their efforts to gain the right to vote. However, the start of the women’s rights movement in the mid-1800s, involving leaders such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, paved the path for the expansion of women’s rights into the modern century.
... great marriages where the husband and wife are equal, by stating how society constricts the women’s true inner genius, and by recording admirable women who stand up in an effort for equality. This article came in the beginnings of the revolution, and lead to the inspiration of many new followers. These new disciples then spread the word of women’s rights and gained even more followers leading to a snowball effect for new supporters. This now-tremendous group made many earnest court appeals which led to suffrage and many more new privileges for women. If it weren’t for this document and the new-found followers of the revolution, the United States may not be the equal and unbiased country it is today.
Murray argues that; women’s minds equal those of men, women’s mentality will increase with education, and a Biblical argument is moot. Murray even mentions that strength associated with intelligence fails to discredit women’s intellectual ability because: a) the people working in the fields (such as African American slaves) would then be the most intelligent, and b) masculine women and feminine men exist (Murray 180). Her points, though, come with a caveat. Murray wants education for women, but for women to continue in their same gender defined categories. Women can use their educated minds to occupy themselves during the mundane tasks such as sowing and sweeping. In fact, she argues that women will become more complacent and lose the attributes that annoy men, gossiping and unnecessary visits, and gain characteristics men would prefer, such as discretion and better judgement. Despite her limits on women’s rights, Murray asks a question that rings forth by following generations; “How is one exalted and the other depressed…The one is taught to aspire, and the other is early confined and limited. As their years increase, the sister must be wholly domesticated, while the brother is led by the hand through all the flowery paths of science” (Murry 178). Murray fought for women’s rights through education, and
Society has long since considered women the lessor gender and one of the most highly debated topics in society through the years has been that of women’s equality. The debates began over the meaning between a man and woman’s morality and a woman’s rights and obligations in society. After the 19th Amendment was sanctioned around 1920, the ball started rolling on women’s suffrage. Modern times have brought about the union of these causes, but due to the differences between the genetic makeup and socio demographics, the battle over women’s equality issue still continues to exist. While men have always held the covenant role of the dominant sex, it was only since the end of the 19th century that the movement for women’s equality and the entitlement of women have become more prevalent. “The general consensus at the time was that men were more capable of dealing with the competitive work world they now found themselves thrust into. Women, it was assumed, were unable to handle the pressures outside of the home. They couldn’t vote, were discourages from working, and were excluded from politics. Their duty to society was raising moral children, passing on the values that were unjustly thrust upon them as society began to modernize” (America’s Job Exchange, 2013). Although there have been many improvements in the changes of women’s equality towards the lives of women’s freedom and rights in society, some liberals believe that women have a journey to go before they receive total equality. After WWII, women continued to progress in there crusade towards receiving equality in many areas such as pay and education, discrimination in employment, reproductive rights and later was followed by not only white women but women from other nationalities ...
Today, women are not typically seen in higher levels of position in the work force than men. In Anne-Marie Slaughter’s article “Why Women Still Can’t Have It All”, she uses her own experience to convey why it is not possible for a woman to work in a higher position, due to women being more emotional than men. People still believe it’s a women’s place to stay at home to cook, clean and take care of the children, while the men go to work to pay the bills. And it’s considered odd if the man is a stay at home father and the woman is working 24/7 and is never home. Even though it is rewarding to be able to always be there to see your child’s milestones in their life. It is always nice to get away from that life for even a moment. I don’t mean going out with the girls or guys, while you hire a babysitter, but helping your husband or wife pay the bills, so you have two rather than one income coming in at the end of the month. In Richard Dorment’s article, “Why Men Still Can’t Have It All” he states that both men and women can’t have it all. I agree with both Slaughter and Dorment, but not entirely. I believe if you want to be a good
The entire Women’s Movement in the United States has been quite extensive. It can be traced back to 1848, when the first women’s rights convention was held in Seneca Falls, New York. After two days of discussions, 100 men and women signed the Declaration of Sentiments. Drafted by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, this document called for equal treatment of women and men under the law and voting rights for women. This gathering set the agenda for the rest of the Women’s Movement long ago (Imbornoni). Over the next 100 years, many women played a part in supporting equal treatment for women, most notably leading to the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which allowed women the right to vote.
The Movement for Women's Rights Inside "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Women have been mistreated, enchained and dominated by men for most of the human history. Until the second half of the twentieth century, there was great inequality between the social and economic conditions of men and women (Pearson Education). The battle for women's emancipation, however, had started in 1848 by the first women's rights convention, which was led by some remarkable and brave women (Pearson Education).
Though seen as crazy, Fuller challenges society's view on women as a whole using both religious and historical evidence. Fuller also addresses that change will not be possible without the help of educated women to take a stand and fight for their rights. Even though Fuller's essays may not have been the reason women have some of the rights they have today, her intellectual knowledge and determination allowed women to be seen much more than the property they were previously seen as.
In her essay, Woman in the Nineteenth Century, Margaret Fuller discusses the state of marriage in America during the 1800‘s. She is a victim of her own knowledge, and is literally considered ugly because of her wisdom. She feels that if certain stereotypes can be broken down, women can have the respect of men intellectually, physically, and emotionally. She explains why some of the inequalities exist in marriages around her. Fuller feels that once women are accepted as equals, men and women will be able achieve a true love not yet known to the people of the world.