The history of women’s rights
The fight for equality for all minorities was long and rigorous. And in many ways, they continue to push for rights and status like their white male peers. The same goes for the female rights movement through its trials, tribulations, and lengthy history.
Long before the comforts of freedom granted to women today, their only hope of an ideal life back then was as a doting wife. Laws were enforced for men to hold more power over women, stripping them of their individuality or identity other than obeying and serving their significant other. From a young age, girls were conditioned to accept and endure anything their husbands declared of them. Despite that, women no longer wanted to be treated inhumanely and fought to have their roles changed.
Abolitionist Elizabeth Cady Stanton was just one of the many individuals who took a stand against the injustice women experienced at the time. She, alongside five other women, organized the first American women’s rights convention on July 19th, 1848. This two-day event occurred in the Wesleyan Chapel in Seneca Falls, New York. The purpose of this convention was to shed light on how oppressive men acted towards women.
Preventing them from a college education, taking their rights to vote, and giving men power over divorce and child custody decisions are some examples of the dehumanizing behavior women encountered. Stanton expressed in a speech to the 300 people who showed up that day the demand for the same equality men had. This convention would continue to spread works of activism generation after generation. It even led to the founding of the National Woman Suffrage Association.
Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton partnered in founding the National Woman Suffrage Association on May 15th, 1869. The campaign focused on gaining equal voting rights and bringing social issues to the surface. At that time, there was disagreement in supporting the 15th Amendment, which allowed African Americans the right to vote. Instead of the NWSA supporting the amendment, they fought for a position in the U.S. Constitution.
From the efforts of abolitionists and other activists, women finally gained voting rights on August 18th, 1920. However, prejudice and the patriarchy continue to affect female society. Women today find themselves carrying the same struggles as they did years prior. Although progress has been made, the playing field is uneven and marginalized groups are not given the total equality they deserve.
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