Grimke Women's Rights

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“Whatsoever it is morally right for a man to do, it is morally right for a woman to do. She is clothed by her Maker with the same rights, the same duties.” - Sarah Grimke

In the books The Invention of Wings and A Raisin in the Sun, Sarah Grimke and Beneatha Younger were both determined women who pushed past gender barriers in their own lives, which helped them lead the way for women in the future to follow in their footsteps. These two ladies were inspirations to women all throughout the country and became pioneers in the women’s rights movement. By pursuing her dreams, Beneatha gave way for women to accomplish their goals in regards to careers. Similarly, Sarah Grimke set a movement in motion for women to gain equal rights, which was …show more content…

Not only did she choose to fulfill her goal of abolishing slavery over her desire to marry Israel, someone she cared deeply about, but she also forced her way out of the slave-based society in Charleston and became a Quaker, and then eventually an abolitionist who also felt strongly about equality. First, she was one of the most influential women to speak openly about racial and gender equality during the mid-1800’s. Alongside her sister Nina, Sarah held lectures where she told women about the ludicrous barriers that were set in place to keep women, both white and black, from becoming equal members in society. By doing this, she defied all the people who told her to stop being difficult and just accept how things were in regards to slavery and inequality, which included most of her family, the members of her former Church, almost all of Charleston, and society as a whole. A quote from one of her infamous pamphlets reads, “I address you as a repentant slaveholder of the South, one secure in the knowledge that the Negro is not chatted to be owned, but a person under God…” (Kidd, 323). In order to publicly state this, she had to have a lot of bravery and courage, since there were dangerous consequences involved in the pursuit of equality, especially amongst blacks. This piece of evidence proves that she was a trailblazer who did not let society’s expectations or threats get in her way of fighting for a cause that she felt strongly inclined to believe in. All-in-all, Sarah Grimke was played a pivotal role in the women’s rights movement by exceeding the expectations of women during her time and fighting for the equal rights of slaves as well as all

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