During
the 1600s Puritan ideologies led to colonial women being viewed as morally
inferior and insubordinate to men even considering women’s work was important and
necessary to sustain the family, farm, household and community. During this
time women were in charge of the household. Women had strong economic power and
influence although the religious beliefs kept them submissive to men. In the early
1800’s as women’s respect as mothers began to grow their economic influence
began to decrease. Perhaps women kept silent during this transition because they
were happy to resume their roles as mothers. Although this time period seems like the low point in history in regards to women’s rights, many doors began to
open. Women gained access to education in order to attract a suitable husband
and properly educate their children. “Parents came to believe that their girls
needed some education in order to be interesting mates for well-bread husbands.”[1]
Women were also able to obtain careers as teachers and factory work. Some women
were even able to venture in philanthropy speaking, medical careers, and writers.
Women were having fewer children and some even choosing to remain unmarried as
well as choosing husbands. As women began to take control of their own lives realization
of gender inequalities became apparent. Few colleges and universities allowed women to
attend. Women were not allowed to speak publicly with men in the crowd. Women experienced substantial wage inequalities;
and marriage was basically a platform for women to surrender what little right
they had to men. Lucy Stone, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony determined
the most effective pathway to impact and improve gender inequalities were to
give women the right to vote. “She (Susan B. Anthony) saw solution in the vote,
which, once extended to women, would force changes in marriage laws.”[2]
By the mid-1800s timing seemed right to
push for equal rights for women. Equal rights and the emancipation of slavery
were at the forefront government and politics. “To concentrate on the
emancipation of slaves was to advance the equality of women, for both were
oppressed.”[3] However the suffrage movement was overshadowed by Civil War and
the debate of the Fifteenth Amendment as the rights of black males took
precedence over women’s rights.
In her book, Sisters
The Lives of America’s Suffragists, Jean H. Baker reflects on the personal
lives of women suffragists Lucy Stone, Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady
Stanton. Describing their experiences
and passion humanizes these suffrage leaders helping readers to relate and gain
a greater understanding of the movement.
Lucy Stone and Elizabeth Cady Stanton had
similar lives in regards to gender inequalities. Lucy Stone remembers her
mother often repeating she wished Lucy and her younger sister had been boys
since “a women’s lot is so hard.”[4]. Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s father told her “Oh,
my daughter I, I wish you were a boy.” [5] Stone realized her mother’s truth
and developed passion for the suffrage from watching the suffering of her own
mother abused by a drunken husband, grieve the loss of children, and birth of
nine children. Stone attended college after she raised her own money for
Oberlin College taking her nine years for the first year’s tuition. [6]Stanton’s
mother had given birth to eleven children as a result suffered from early
menopause and became “depressed, distracted, and withdrawn.” [7]Although
Stanton attended Emma Willard School and was at the top of her class, she left after
Charles Finney the evangelist minister came to preach. Both Stone and Stanton
were married. After pursuing Lucy Stone for years, Stone married Henry
Blackwell after risking his life to save 8 year old fugitive slave girl. [8].Elizabeth
Cady married Henry Brewster Stanton, a well -known abolitionist and lecturer.[9]”Like
Lucy Stone’s and Henry Blackwell’s, this couple’s mutual attraction flamed in
serious discussions of public matters.” [10]
Susan B. Anthony had a different upbringing than her
suffrage sisters. Her father was a Quaker and humanitarian who made his home
into a mecca for fugitive slaves and abolitionists. [11] She was treated with
fairness by her father and mother. Anthony’s mother stood by her father in public
affairs all while raising her children and helping to board and feed her
husband’s mill workers. Through her mother Anthony saw gender inequalities that
existed. [12] Anthony realized her “life’s purpose” while teaching after
fighting for equal pay for male and female teachers. [13] Anthony began
organizing lectures with Stone, Stanton, and Nette Brown. Anthony was never to
marry and felt betrayed when Lucy Stone and Netter Brown married. Lucy Stone
develop differences of opinion with Anthony and Stanton and went on the form
her own suffrage association. The separation was further exacerbated by Stone
have birthing and raising a daughter after marring Henry Blackwell and word of
Henry’s affair.
Lucy Stone stated “If it takes 40 years to get out of the
wilderness we must be patient.”[14] Although the efforts were delayed and these
women did not see the fruits of their labor, they were successful. Each woman
fought until their last breath so women could be considered equal. Even though
the movement was delayed while the equal rights for Black Americans took center
stage, both were cause noble to the human rights movement.
[1] Gail Collins,
America's Women 400 Years of Dolls, Drudges, Helpmates, and Heroines. (New
York; Harper Collins Publishers), 106.
[2] Jean H. Baker. Sisters,
The Lives of America’s Suffragists. (New York: Hill and Wang, 2005), 67.
[3] Baker. Sisters, The Lives of America’s Suffragists. 69.
[4] Baker. Sisters, The Lives of America’s Suffragists.14 .
[5] Baker. Sisters, The Lives of America’s Suffragists.93 .
[6] Baker. Sisters, The Lives of America’s Suffragists.15 .
[7] Baker. Sisters, The Lives of America’s Suffragists.95 .
[8] Baker. Sisters, The Lives of America’s Suffragists. 22.
[9] Baker. Sisters, The Lives of America’s Suffragists. 99.
[10] Baker. Sisters, The Lives of America’s Suffragists. 100.
[11] Baker. Sisters, The Lives of America’s Suffragists. 59.
[12] Baker. Sisters, The Lives of America’s Suffragists.60.
[13] Baker. Sisters, The Lives of America’s Suffragists.63.
[14] Baker. Sisters, The Lives of America’s Suffragists.44.
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