Democracy Deferred:Stanton, Rose, Truth

“Whatever he admires in woman will she possess”

Abigail Adams to John, 3/31/1776• I long to hear that you have declared an independency.

And, by the way, in the new code of laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make, I desire you would remember the ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors.– Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the

husbands.• Remember, all men would be tyrants if they could. If

particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation.

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John Adams to Abigail, 4/14/1776• As to your extraordinary code of laws, I cannot but

laugh.– Depend upon it, we know better than to repeal our

masculine systems. Although they are in full force, you know they are little more than theory. We dare not exert our power in its full latitude. We are obliged to go fair and softly, and, in practice, you know we are the subjects.

• We have only the name of masters, and rather than give up this, which would completely subject us to the despotism of the petticoat, I hope General Washington and all our brave heroes would fight.

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• 1777: Women lose the right to vote in New York • 1780: Women lose the right to vote in

Massachusetts– Had suffrage while British colony

• 1784: Women lose the right to vote in New Hampshire

• 1787: Women in all states except New Jersey lose the right to vote.

• 1807: Women lose the right to vote in New Jersey

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Seneca Falls Convention

• July 19-20, 1848 at Seneca Falls, NY– Begun by women excluded from anti-slavery

convention– Organizers & speakers included Lucretia Mott,

Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Frederick Douglass– Strong Quaker, evangelical Methodist presence– Foundational moment in movement for women’s

suffrage– Proving the humanity of women

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Elizabeth Cady Stanton• 1815-1902• Abolitionist & Suffragist• In addition to vote, focus on

– promoting property rights, birth control, custody rights, women’s employment, temperance, divorce rights

• Refused to support 14th & 15th Amendments on grounds that women remained disenfranchised

• The Woman’s Bible

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Declaration of Sentiments

Declaration of Sentiments• When, in the course of human

events, it becomes necessary for one portion of the family of man to assume among the people of the earth a position different from that which they have hitherto occupied, but one to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes that impel them to such a course.

Declaration of Independence• When in the course of human

Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the Separation.

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• We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights governments are instituted, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

• We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness—-That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed…

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GrievancesHe has never permitted her to exercise her inalienable right to

the elective franchise.• He has compelled her to submit to laws, in the formation of

which she had no voice• When, this happens to men, it’s called tyranny

• Having deprived her of this first right as a citizen, the elective franchise, thereby leaving her without representation in the halls of legislation, he has oppressed her on all sides.

• He has made her, if married, in the eye of the law, civilly dead.

• He has taken from her all right in property, even to the wages she earns.

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GrievancesHe has made her morally, an irresponsible being, as she can commit many crimes with impunity, provided they be done in the presence of her husband. In the covenant of marriage, she is compelled to promise obedience to her husband, he becoming, to all intents and purposes, her master - the law giving him power to deprive her of her liberty, and to administer chastisement.

• After depriving her of all rights as a married woman, if single and the owner of property, he has taxed her to support a government which recognizes her only when her property can be made profitable to it.

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Grievances

• He has usurped the prerogative of Jehovah himself, claiming it as his right to assign for her a sphere of action, when that belongs to her conscience and her God.

• He has endeavored, in every way that he could to destroy her confidence in her own powers, to lessen her self-respect, and to make her willing to lead a dependent and abject life.

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Social Construction• Speech at Seneca Falls• “Let us consider his intellectual superiority. Man's

superiority cannot be a question until we have had a fair trial. • When we shall have had our colleges, our professions, our

trades, for a century a comparison may then be justly instituted. When woman instead of being taxed to endow colleges where she is forbidden to enter, instead of forming societies to educate young men shall first educate herself, when she shall be just to herself before she is generous to others—improving the talents God has given her and leaving her neighbour to do the same for himself we shall not then hear so much of this boasted greatness.”

– Same with physical ability

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Difference & Power

• “there is a class of objectors who say they do not claim superiority, they merely assert a difference, but you will find by following them up closely that they make this difference to be vastly in favor of man.”

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• “The most discouraging, the most lamentable aspect our cause wears is the indifference indeed the contempt with which women themselves regard our movement. When the subject is introduced among our young ladies among those even who claim to be intelligent and educated it is met by the scornful curl of the lip and by expressions of disgust and ridicule. – But we shall hope better things of them when they are

enlighted in regard to their present position, to the laws under which they live—they will not then publish their degradation by declaring themselves satisfied nor their ignorance by declaring they have all the rights they want.

• They are not the only class of beings who glory in their bondage.”

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Happy Homes• “One common objection to this movement is that if the principles of

freedom and equality which we advocate were put to practise, it would destroy all harmony in the domestic circle. Here let me ask how many truly harmonious households have we now?”– “As to her little world within she finds not much comfort there. Her wishes

should she have any must be in subjection to those of her tyrant—her will must be in perfect subordination, the comfort of the wife, children, servants one and all must be given up wholly disregarded until the great head of the house be first attended to. No matter what the case may be he must have his hot dinner.”

– “On the other hand we find the so called Hen-pecked Husband, oftimes a kind generous noble minded man who hates contention and is willing to do anything for peace. He having unwarily caught a Tarter tries to make the best of her.”

• “The only happy households we now see are those in which Husband and wife share equally in counsel and government. There can be no true dignity or independence where there is subordination, no happiness without freedom.”

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Solitude of Self• “The point I wish plainly to bring before you on

this occasion is the individuality of each human soul; our Protestant idea, the right of individual conscience and judgment-our republican idea, individual citizenship. – Secondly, if we consider her as a citizen, as a member

of a great nation, she must have the same rights as all other members, according to the fundamental principles of our Government.

– Thirdly, viewed as a woman, an equal factor in civilization, her rights and duties are still the same-individual happiness and development.”

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Biology and Humanity• “It is only the incidental relations of life, such as mother, wife,

sister, daughter, that may involve some special duties and training. – In the usual discussion in regard to woman's sphere, such as men as

Herbert Spencer, Frederic Harrison, and Grant Allen uniformly subordinate her rights and duties as an individual, as a citizen, as a woman, to the necessities of these incidental relations, some of which a large class of woman may never assume.

• In discussing the sphere of man we do not decide his rights as an individual, as a citizen, as a man by his duties as a father, a husband, a brother, or a son, relations some of which he may never fill. – Moreover he would be better fitted for these very relations and

whatever special work he might choose to do to earn his bread by the complete development of all his faculties as an individual.”

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Self-Actualization

• “Nothing strengthens the judgment and quickens the conscience like individual responsibility. – Nothing adds such dignity to character as the

recognition of one's self-sovereignty; the right to an equal place, every where conceded; a place earned by personal merit, not an artificial attainment, by inheritance, wealth, family, and position.”

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Self-Actualization• “Seeing, then that the responsibilities of life rests equally

on man and woman, that their destiny is the same, they need the same preparation for time and eternity. – The talk of sheltering woman from the fierce sterns of life is the

sheerest mockery, for they beat on her from every point of the compass, just as they do on man, and with more fatal results, for he has been trained to protect himself, to resist, to conquer. Such are the facts in human experience, the responsibilities of individual. Rich and poor, intelligent and ignorant, wise and foolish, virtuous and vicious, man and woman, it is ever the same, each soul must depend wholly on itself.

• Whatever the theories may be of woman's dependence on man, in the supreme moments of her life he can not bear her burdens.”

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Technology & Social Change• Is it, then, consistent to hold the developed woman of this day

within the same narrow political limits as the dame with the spinning wheel and knitting needle occupied in the past? – No! no! Machinery has taken the labors of woman as well as man on

its tireless shoulders; the loom and the spinning wheel are but dreams of the past; the pen, the brush, the easel, the chisel, have taken their places, while the hopes and ambitions of women are essentially changed.

• We see reason sufficient in the outer conditions of human being for individual liberty and development, but when we consider the self dependence of every human soul we see the need of courage, judgment, and the exercise of every faculty of mind and body, strengthened and developed by use, in woman as well as man.

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• “There is a solitude, which each and every one of us has always carried with him, more inaccessible than the ice-cold mountains, more profound than the midnight sea; the solitude of self. – Our inner being, which we call ourself, no eye nor touch of man

or angel has ever pierced. It is more hidden than the caves of the gnome; the sacred adytum of the oracle; the hidden chamber of eleusinian mystery, for to it only omniscience is permitted to enter.

• Such is individual life. Who, I ask you, can take, dare take, on himself the rights, the duties, the responsibilities of another human soul?”– To deny women this solitude is to deny them their humanity

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Ernestine P. Rose

• 1810-1892• Polish born• Major suffragist

intellectual• Atheist

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Democracy & Suffrage• “Carry out the republican principle of universal suffrage, or

strike it from your banners and substitute "Freedom and Power to one half of society, and submission and slavery to the other." Give woman the elective franchise. Let married women have the same right to property that their husbands have; for whatever the difference in their respective occupations, the duties of the wife are as indispensable and far more arduous than the husband's.”– While men work before and after marriage, childrearing and

housekeeping fall on the woman, meaning that the husband’s life improves at the same time that the wife’s deteriorates

– Thus unjust to have laws of marriage, property, divorce and child custody all favor the already privileged husband

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• “Man forgets that woman cannot be degraded without its re-acting on himself. The impress of her mind is stamped on him by nature, and the early education of the mother which no after-training can entirely efface; and therefore, the estimation she is held in falls back with double force upon him. Yet, from the force of prejudice against her, he knows it not. – Not long ago, I saw an account of two offenders, brought

before a Justice of New York. One was charged with stealing a pair of boots, for which offense he was sentenced to six months' imprisonment; the other crime was assault and battery upon his wife: he was let off with a reprimand from the judge!”

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Self & Relationships of Power• “No! there is no reason against woman's elevation, but

there are deep-rooted, hoary-headed prejudices. The main cause of them is, a pernicious falsehood propagated against her being, namely, that she is inferior by her nature. Inferior in what? What has man ever done, that woman, under the same advantages, could not do?”– “And do you know why these irrationalities are practised?

Because man wishes them to be delicate; for whatever he admires in woman will she possess. That is the influence man has over woman, for she has been made to believe that she was created for his benefit only.”

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Self & Relationships of Power• “Do you not yet understand what has made woman

what she is? Then see what the sickly taste and perverted judgment of man now admires in woman. – Not physical and mental vigor, but a pale, delicate face;

hands too small to grasp a broom, for that were treason in a lady; a voice so sentimental and depressed, that what she says can be learned only by the moving of her half parted lips; and above all, that nervous sensibility which sees a ghost in every passing shadow,

• that beautiful diffidence which dares not take a step without the protecting arm of man to support her tender frame, and that shrinking mock-modesty that faints at the mention of a leg of a table.”

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Self & Relationships of Power• “I know there are many noble exceptions, who

see and deplore these irrationalities; but as a general thing, the facts are as I state, or else why that hue and cry of "mannish," "unfeminine," "out of her sphere," etc., whenever woman evinces any strength of body or mind, and takes interest in anything deserving of a rational being? – Oh! the crying injustice towards woman. She is

crushed at every step, and then insulted for being what a most pernicious education and corrupt public sentiment have made her. But there is no confidence in her powers, nor principles.”

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• “Man may remove her legal shackles, and recognize her as his equal, which will greatly aid in her elevation; but the law cannot compel her to cultivate her mind and take an independent stand as a free being. – She must cast off that mountain weight, that intimidating cowardly

question, which like a nightmare presses down all her energies, namely, "What will people say? what will Mrs. Grundy say?" Away with such slavish fears! Woman must think for herself, and use for herself that greatest of all prerogatives -- judgment of right and wrong. And next she must act according to her best convictions, irrespective of any other voice than that or right and duty.

• The time, I trust, will come, though slowly, yet surely, when woman will occupy that high and lofty position, for which nature has so eminently fitted her, in the destinies of humanity.”– Transcendentalist legacy

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Sojourner Truth• 1797-1183• Abolition & suffrage• Devout Christian• Born into slavery in NY as ‘Isabella

Baumfree”, changed name in 1843– “The truth calls me”

• Escaped w/infant daughter in 1826– Sued to recover son, was first to be

successful (had been sold illegally)• Born in NY, spoke only Dutch until 9 yrs

old– No Southern accent!

• Recruited black soldiers for Union army, unsuccessfully sought promised land grants for freed slaves

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“Ain’t I a Woman?”

Robinson (recorded 1851)• Crowd calm, receptive• “I want to say a few words

about this matter. I am a woman's rights.”

Gage (recalled 1863)• Crowd raucous, hostile• “Wall, chilern, whar dar is

so much racket dar must be somethin' out o' kilter. I tink dat 'twixt de niggers of de Souf and de womin at de Norf, all talkin' 'bout rights, de white men will be in a fix pretty soon. But what's all dis here talkin' 'bout?”

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• “I have as much muscle as any man, and can do as much work as any man. I have plowed and reaped and husked and chopped and mowed, and can any man do more than that? I have heard much about the sexes being equal. I can carry as much as any man, and can eat as much too, if I can get it. I am as strong as any man that is now.”

• “Dat man ober dar say dat womin needs to be helped into carriages, and lifted ober ditches, and to hab de best place everywhar. Nobody eber helps me into carriages, or ober mud-puddles, or gibs me any best place!" And raising herself to her full height, and her voice to a pitch like rolling thunder, she asked. 'And ain't I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm!” – (and she bared her right arm to

the shoulder, showing her tremendous muscular power)

• I have ploughed, and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! “

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• “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 de lash as well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne thirteen chilern, and seen 'em mos' all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman?”

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• “As for intellect, all I can say is, if a woman have a pint, and a man a quart – why can't she have her little pint full? You need not be afraid to give us our rights for fear we will take too much, – for we can't take more than our pint'll hold. The poor men seems to be all in confusion, and don't know what to do. Why children, if you have woman's rights, give it to her and you will feel better. You will have your own rights, and they won't be so much trouble.”

• “Den dey talks 'bout dis ting in de head; what dis dey call it?" ("Intellect," whispered someone near.) "Dat's it, honey. What's dat got to do wid womin's rights or nigger's rights? If my cup won't hold but a pint, and yourn holds a quart, wouldn't ye be mean not to let me have my little half-measure full?”– And she pointed her significant

finger, and sent a keen glance at the minister who had made the argument. The cheering was long and loud.

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• “But the women are coming up blessed be God and a few of the men are coming up with them. But man is in a tight place, the poor slave is on him, woman is coming on him, he is surely between a hawk and a buzzard.”

• “If de fust woman God ever made was strong enough to turn de world upside down all alone, dese women togedder (and she glanced her eye over the platform) ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again! And now dey is asking to do it, de men better let 'em.”

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