Elizabeth Cady Stanton: Challenging Religion through the Women’s Right Movement
Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a powerful writer who believed on the abolition of slavery and that women’s voice should be heard. Stanton, along with other members of the woman suffrage movement recognized how the Christian Church supported men’s oppressive behavior toward women. She realized that women’s position in the Church became so deteriorated that horrifying acts against women became justified and accepted by the public. “The only points in which I differ from all ecclesiastical teaching is that I do not believe that any man ever saw or talked with God, I do not believe that God inspired the Mosaic code, or told the historians what they say he did about woman, for all the religions on the face of the earth degrade her, and so long as woman accepts the position that they assign her, her emancipation is impossible.” Elizabeth Cady Stanton wrote these lines in the Woman’s Bible as a wake up call for women who were accepting and taking for granted their own value in the eyes of God.
Moreover, Stanton was aware that she was fighting against an institution that has taken away women’s rights from its sacred books and conveniently has created a patriarchal nation that was the setting for a perpetuate abuse against women’s rights. The words of Thomas Aquinas, the thirteenth century Christian theologian, summarizes what the Church and society itself followed and still believed during the 19th century: “ woman was created to be man’s help meet, but her unique role is in conception…since for other purposes men would be better assisted by other men.” Cady Stanton revises the Bible in 1881, considering that this action was needed, since no women participa...
... middle of paper ...
... not acceptable according to the Christian Holy book. Therefore, solutions to women’s issues regarding men’s oppressive acts can be heard and God’s word would not be hold responsible for sexist behaviors that keep women into the darkness of silence.
References
Blaney, Mary. Role of Women in the Catholic Church. 14 April 2004. http://www.votf.org/papers/A WomansPlace.html
Trinity Stores: Icons and Art, Religious Gifts, Catholic & Christian Products. 14 April 2004.
http://www.trinitystores.com/main.php4?detail=39&artist=1
Women and the World. 14 April 2004. http://www2.dsu.nodak.edu/users/demeier/women/women.html
Schools of 19th Century Christian Feminism. 14 April 2004. http://www.erasofelegance.com/gender2.html
Stanton, Cady Elizabeth. The Woman’s Bible. The Complete Text in Two Volumes 14 April 2004
http://www.undelete.org/library/library0041.html
Susan B. Anthony is the most well known name in women's rights from the 1800s. Most people who are not familiar with the history of this time are aware of Susan's reputation and nearly everyone of my generation has seen and held a Susan B. Anthony silver dollar. For these reasons I was greatly surprised to learn that Elizabeth Cady Stanton was the original women's rights movement spokeswoman and Susan B. Anthony her protégé.
But Cady Stanton saw opportunity in public criticism. ‘Imagine the publicity given our ideas by thus appearing in a widely circulated sheet like the Herald!’ she wrote to Mott. ‘It will start women thinking, and men, too.’ She drafted lengthy responses to every negative newspaper article and editorial, presenting the reformers’ side of the issue to the readers. Mott sensed her younger colleague’s future role. ‘Thou art so wedded to this cause, ‘ she told Cady Stanton, ‘that thou must expect to act as pioneer in the
Between the years 1776 and 1876, many people from different backgrounds and religions joined the fight for women's rights. Among them were some of today's most memorable female activists, such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who was also a mother of seven children. She was first influenced by a Quaker woman, named Lucretia Mott, who she met outside of a world antislavery convention in 1840. Eventually, Stanton joined Susan B. Anthony, who was a fearless "militant lecturer for women's rights," in "a more strident, drive for divorce liberation, sexual freedom, and reproductive control for women. Other crusaders for women's rights include Amelia Bloomer, Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, and even the second first lady, Abigail Adams. Those who opposed the suffragists believed women to be inferior and "irresponsible" beings who were "physically and emotionally weak, but also artistic and refined." They also had "finely tuned morals" and were the "keepers of society's conscience." On the other hand, men were thought of as "strong but crude" and with a natural tyrannical and savage nature that needed to be "guided by the gentle hands of their loving ladies." Abigail confirms the male's natural desire for arbitrary power in Document B, for she stated, "[...] all Men would be tyrants if they could."
Elizabeth’s dedication to women 's rights sometimes created a tiff in her marriage but, that was completely unknown to many, “Elizabeth kept silent while her husband was having a grand old time in the thick of things. But whatever arguments the couple engaged remained between them (89). Not only did the women 's rights cause problems in her marriage it also created problems in many other relationships. Elizabeth Cady Stanton continuously pushed boundaries like with her fashion, “That spring Stanton, Lucy Stone, and Amelia Bloomer had traded in their cumbersome attire for the “‘Bloomer costume”’ and thus made the dress reform” (80). Her family was apposed to her wearing fants they were so upset by it that some did not even want to talk to her or be around her while she wore bloomers. She didn’t mind causing an uproar or being judged and ridiculed constantly. She did what ever it took to make a stand and do what was needed to succeed. During this time period of the mid 1800s and beyond that, Elizabeth would be considered a “maverick”. Though there were many women, and a select few men who actively participated in the movement of women 's rights, most people did not stand up for what they believed in, or did not have the literary needed to express themselves, and some were even opposed to what Elizabeth and other reformers were doing. The majority of people did not help the womens rights movement, making it a out of the social norm to be a part of. Elizabeth was one of the few that spoke up for what she believed in, and never let societies view put her down or make her feel inferior to men. Being the one to stand up and create a change is a difficult thing to do, it takes confidence and aspiration that Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s speech was very impactful thanks to her well thought-out address, emotionally impactful statements, and rhetorical devices. By using emotional, logical, and ethical appeals, she was able to persuade many, and show a first hand look at someone personally crippled by the lack of women’s rights in her time. Through her experience, she was able to give an exceptional speech conveying the deprivation of women in her time, changing society, and helping women reach equality in America.
In the speech, Stanton mentions the “record of blood and cruelty the pages of history reveal” (Stanton) in regards to the established patriarchy. The phrasing of the “pages of history” grant Stanton support and belief because the actual historical record of Stanton’s argument displays the accurate knowledge of events and implies a need for change. Also, Stanton uses the conflict between man’s law and God’s law to support her cause: “she must respect his statutes, though they strip her of every inalienable right, and conflict with that higher law written by the finger of God on her own soul” (Stanton). Through the juxtaposition of man’s “statutes” and “higher law,” Stanton validates her standing because by using God as a higher power and implying that men are against God, it is only natural for women to gain rights because it is the “godly” thing to do. Elizabeth Cady Stanton implements ethos to gain validity in her cause in employing actual evidence for history and emphasizing the support of women’s rights by
Gross domestic product (GDP) is one of the best ways to measure how a country’s economy is doing. A main component in figuring the GDP is personal consumption expenditures. Personal consumption expenditures accounts for about two-thirds of domestic
The origins of Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s undying fervor for women’s rights derived from her early childhood. Stanton was born into a wealthy family, as her mother’s father had been colonel of the Continental Army and her father held an office in the New York State Assembly, and served as a judge on the New York Supreme Court. Despite her wealthy upbringing, her childhood was surrounded by the cult of domesticity and the belief on how women were of less value than men. Following her older brother’s death, she desired to fill in his void by taking up “masculine” hobbies: learning Greek, horseback riding, chess, and attending Johnstown Academy. Unfortunately, her father failed to acknowledge her achievements and acted indifferent toward them. As
Women spent majority of their day ironing, washing clothes, baking, sewing clothes and raising their children (page 17). Religion also added to women’s lesser status (page 18). Religion was at the core life of Americans, female submission was decreed to be part of God’s order (page 18). Lucretia Mott soon pointed out that many scriptures celebrated female strength and independence (page 18). As a young girl Elizabeth Cady Stanton learned about laws that limited rights of wives and as an adult found ways to reform marriage and divorce laws (page 23). Things were looking up for women, by 1850 female wage workers made up nearly a quarter of the manufacturing labor work force (page 30). Women were still excluded from occupations such as the military, ministry, law, medicine and jobs felt inappropriate for women (page 32). During this antebellum period women were starting to rise up and realize they deserved to have the same rights and privileges men received. This gave women hope that things could change. By the second quarter of the 19th century few positive changes for women pushed Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Susan B Anthony, Lucy Stone and others to challenge injustices and reform efforts (page
During the 1800’s, there was a shift towards equality for a multitude of groups. Predating this movement, there was already a premonition of how one of these groups, women, should act and behave within society. Many women joined together to form the Feminist movement, which advocated for women no longer being treated inferior to their male counterparts. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Judith Sargent Murray were two prominent leaders in the early feminist movement. Both of these women challenged the sexist norms that they were placed under in the patriarchal society at the time. To further publicize their arguments and progress their movement, the two females wrote feminist documents representing their views: Stanton, with the help of others, writing
The Awakening experienced a feminization of religion in theology and church membership. Many middle class women found strength in controlling their own morality and fostering the moral life of American spirituality. Since they were fighting for a world that was better for everyone, also known as an utopia, female reformers realized that fighting for their own rights would permit a more wholesome life for other women in the United States (Document 5). Female reformers such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton realized that women did not have to submit to men but could instead stand up for her own rights (Document 7). In addition, women made up the majority of new church membership, leading to an increase in their role in society. Due to a multitude of factors, most important of which is women taking a greater role in society due to their involvement in religion, the Second Great Awakening drastically influenced the women’s rights
Women’s rights pioneer, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, in her speech, The Destructive Male, expresses her feelings about Women's suffrage in 1868, and brought to light the misconception that women are not equal to man and imply that men bring more destruction than restoration.
In her article, “Feminist Hermeneutics and Biblical Studies”, Phyllis Trible discusses the issues centered toward women in the bible (Trible). She addresses issues not just concerning equality, but also how men viewed women in biblical times. Trible examines the role of women in the bible, and the misconception they carry, that leads many into harms way.
... a merely a reflection of Hebrew society of the time (Stanton). Jesus Christ, being a reformer, should have improved the status of women with his message of love and acceptance. However, there is no denying that the stigma is carried with women into the present day. Women’s position in society can be greatly attributed to their depiction in religious text. Holy word is still a factor in making women more susceptible, more culpable, and more sinful an impure than men. Even as women move up in the social order, religion is timeless and ever bearing on the struggle women fight for sexual equality.
The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the total market value of in a country’s output. The GDP is the total market value of all final goods and services produced by factors in within given period of time that located in the country doesn’t matter they are citizens or foreign-owned companies. Hence, the GDP is the best way to measure the country economy.