Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a writer, lecturer, reformer and preeminent philosopher of the women’s rights movement (National Women's History Museum). She formulated the agenda for women’s rights, which ultimately changed history (National Women's History Museum). Elizabeth’s life story is a theme of rebellion, she went against societal norms to stand up for what she believed in (Ulrich, 2007, p. 21).
Elizabeth Cady Stanton once said, "When I am crowned with all the rights, privileges, and immunities of a citizen, I may give some consideration to this social institution; but until then I must concentrate all my energies on the enfranchisement of my own sex” (Stanton 172). Stanton provides a voice for all women who could not speak for themselves. From the beginning of childhood, Stanton recognized the imbalances between sexes and wants to make a difference. Into adulthood, she continuously enlightened her audiences philosophically through her orations and writings. Rising to prominence in the 19th century, Stanton disproved norms by shedding light on the importance of a woman’s independence. From this alone, Elizabeth Cady Stanton's activism
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Elizabeth Cady Stanton didn’t want to be remembered as a household but the women they will admire. The purpose of this paper is to explain the life of Elizabeth Stanton and how she had a huge effect on the outcome of seeking equal rights for woman.
Early Childhood
First of all, the most famous influential feminist lead was known when she was a child. Elizabeth was born in November 12, 1815 in Johnstown, NY (Elizabeth Cady Stanton Biography).
Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a New Yorker that made history in women civil movements. Since a young age, she knew she was born to fight for women. She became one of the most influential public figures in the 19th century along with Susan B. Anthony. She was one of the nation’s first feminist theorist and certainly one of its most productive activists. She was born in a big family with very educated parents. She supported the lives of woman both private and public to change their lives in general. Elizabeth was known for being one of the best women rights fighter. From a small age she knew she wanted to be different, because growing up she saw how unbalanced the lives of women where.
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
Susan B. Anthony is perhaps one of the most influential and widely known suffragettes of her generation. She traveled around the United States and Europe to hold petitions, give speeches, and help organize women’s rights organizations. She was a pioneer in the fight for women’s suffrage in the United States and has become a well known icon of the women’s suffrage movement.
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
Stanton effectively engages her audience from the beginning for her speech by immediately revealing her purpose. She expresses the value of each individual person, based not only on legal rights but on the basis of each person functioning in solitude from one another. As she continues her address, she educates her audience on the meaning of individuality and how it relates to the fundamental rights of American citizenship. A woman has her own rights, her own happiness, and her own life; feminism embodied this concept. The feminist movement proposed that women be treated more than secondary citizens, more than just a wife and a mother, and more than her husband’s possession. Stanton’s vision was for women to be educated and equally active members of society.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton was exceptionally good friends with Susan B. Anthony. One of her greatest speeches was The Seneca Falls Keynote Address. She was the president of the National American Women's Suffrage Association (NAWSA). She not only did speeches about women’s suffrage but also talked about divorce, property rights, and other topics. She was also an american social