Because of the Women’s Rights Movement, women’s voices finally began to be heard.
The role of women in the 1800’s was to be in control of the chores and general upkeep of the house, while mainly focusing on having children. The Lavender Article discusses the four characteristics of an ideal woman. Those being piety (religious devotion), purity (being free from sin - especially sex), domesticity (working in the household), and submissiveness (being obedient, and dependent on the protection of a husband). Domesticity can be seen in the idea of the public and private sphere. The public sphere being the world of commerce, the economy. A rough world only suitable for men, full of temptations and violence.The private sphere was at home, out of the public view. Being in the home was much safe for “delicate creatures” like women. The Cult of Domesticity reinforces the idea of the private sphere. The lives of middle class women were confined to the home. Their proper place was taking care of the house and children, providing comfort and companionship to men, and remaining out of the public eye.
Those attending the Seneca Falls Convention did not agree with the ideas of the public and private sphere, or the current place of women in society. The Seneca Falls Convention was the first woman's rights convention. The convention discussed the social, civil, and religious rights of women. The Declaration of Sentiments was a document signed by both men and women addressing women’s rights and resolutions giving women more power in society. Similarities can be drawn between the The Declaration of Sentiments and The Declaration of Independence. Both documents share the idea that all men are created equal and they are “endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights”, those rights being life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Of the rights discussed at the convention, women’s suffrage was the most controversial. At the time it was believed that if women did have the right to vote, they would vote the same as their husband. Therefore, leaving no need for women to have the right to vote. Some women saw that their were more pressing concerns, like domestic violence.
At the Seneca Falls Convention women’s voices were being heard for the first time, but a great majority of women were left without a voice. The only women allowed in the conference were upper class white women. Leaving Mexican, Native American, Slaves, and lower class white women unheard. In class each group was given a different women’s group. My group was Cherokee women. We read handouts on the rights Cherokee women used to have and the rights they had in 1848. Then, we made posters about the rights we as Cherokee women should be entitled to. As a class we discussed some rights that every group of women could agree were important. We decided that some of the most important ones were freedom of speech, the right to property, laws against rape, and that everyone should be entitled to the same rights that white male landowners had.
I think of all the resolutions mentioned freedom of speech is the most important. With freedom of speech people are given the chance to voice their opinions and advocate for themselves. With freedom of speech people can spread their cause and others can join them. I think in America we have accomplished some of these rights, but definitely not all of them. Women are still abused and raped in America and all over the world. The Huffington Post writes, “One in three women across the globe has experienced physical or sexual violence at the hands of her partner. And in the United States, some 1.3 million women are assaulted by their partner each year”. There is still a wage gap. In some cultures women do not have a voice. For women in America, it has gotten a lot better, but some people around the world aren’t as fortunate.
Although the rights of women have changed drastically since when the Women’s Rights Movement began, more still needs to be accomplished.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/08/countries-no-domestic-violence-law_n_4918784.html
