Hello psych50~
The first official women's rights convention was, indeed, held in
1848; the purpose of this convention was to "discuss the social, civil
and religious condition and rights of woman." ("The First Women's
Rights Convention," http://www.nps.gov/wori/convent.htm ) Lucretia
Mott, who played a vital role in the early women's rights movement,
and in 1866 formed The American Equal Rights Association, was a Quaker
who met radical feminist Elizabeth Cady Stanton at the World
Anti-Slavery Convention in London in 1840. For a brief look at the
Convention and Mott, see
http://www.npg.si.edu/col/seneca/senfalls1.htm
During the convention, a Declaration of Sentiments was drafted, based
upon the Declaration of Independence. Written by Stanton, it stated
that "all men and women had been created equal." It then listed
eighteen "injuries and usurpations on the part of man toward woman."
Stanton also drafted eleven resolutions, arguing feminine equality and
putting forth the idea that women should be allowed to vote. Lucretia
Mott is said to have reacted: "Why, Lizzie, thee will make us
ridiculous." For specifics on the ideas covered, visit
http://www.legacy98.org/move-hist.html
No laws were changed because of this convention alone, but The
Convention lead to many other conventions that unquestionably played a
major part in how Americans viewed women--eventually landing distaffs
the vote.
The idea of feminism or human rights for women certainly predates the
1840s, however. Let's take the ancient world, for example. In ancient
Rome, women were considered "liberated," and they actively worked to
keep it that way. Men from other areas of the world came to Rome and
expressed shock at the "liberation" of Roman women. Although these
women were not equal with men, they were educated, had more freedom to
move about than women in many cultures, and, if unmarried, could run
businesses, etc. Still, while their status was above that of many
women around the world, they were still ultimately under the law of
their fathers and husbands. In that sense, they were "children."
Hebrew women of ancient Biblical times had strong legal rights and
were protected under the law--not typical for their time period. They
could becomes heirs to property. The Hebrew Bible insisted they be
treated not as mere chattels, but as human beings.
Perhaps the most "liberated" women of ancient times, however, were the
Egyptians. Historians believe that ancient Egyptian women actually
enjoyed some semblance of equality with men. In Egypt, women could own
property (including land, servants, slaves, and livestock). Women
could sign contracts. They could sue in court. Unless she was of the
uppermost class, however, a woman's work was still solely house and
family.
For more information on women in ancient times, you might wish to view
this Answer, and the links included in it:
http://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=threadview&id=108632
During the Renaissance, women were often educated, if not in a
scholarly way, then through apprenticeships. Their ability--and
need--to earn a living was not questioned. Still, their status was
mostly "childlike," and guided by what men allowed them. For more
information about women's status during this time period, visit
http://www.open2.net/renaissance2/what/feminist/feminist_page01.html
Moving forward a little in time, Puritan women had many legal rights;
they could inherit money and property, run a business, they could
vote for minister and politicians. Puritan women were certainly not
chattels...but they weren't *quite* equals with men, either. For more
information on Puritan women, you might enjoy this article:
http://www.nola.com/archives/t-p/index.ssf?/livingstory/zpuritans.html
In the 18th century, when the U.S. government was being formed,
woman's equality was a matter of some serious debate, with Abigail
Adams (wife of founding father John Adams) making many strong
arguments for women's rights. (For a taste of them, see
http://www.thelizlibrary.org/suffrage/abigail.htm ) She was certainly
not the only women concerned with women's rights; even fashion
magazines from the 18th century are littered with references to
women's suffrage. Mary Wollstonecraft Shelly is sometimes called the
"mother" of feminism (
http://marktwain.miningco.com/library/weekly/aa050101a.htm ) Her book,
"A Vindication on the Rights of Women," was one of the first to argue
for women's rights, and was published in 1791.
These early movements for the right to vote were based almost solely
on the idea that women were equal with men, and therefore should have
just as much right to vote. Some women felt like mere chattels during
this time period. Others simply felt like children--unable to care for
themselves because society tied their hands behind their backs.
It should be noted that most early women's rights materials were
focused on suffrage, since it was widely considered "the proper thing
to do" to treat women well (i.e., not to abuse them physically,
emotionally, etc.). Those who did not treat women well were labeled
"unChristian" or "barbaric" and were generally ridiculed by society.
The idea that women ought to have more opportunities in the workforce
was not seriously considered by most people yet--the general thinking
being *why* would they want to work? And as far as birth control was
concerned, most people--men and women--still believed it wrong from
either a religious or social mores standpoint. (It was often felt that
if birth control became widely available, society would become much
more promiscuous...an idea that saw reality in the 20th century.)
By the late 19th century, it was generally acknowledged that women's
rights needed to include, not just the vote, but also the ability to
make a living, if need be. In the 1893 book "What Can A Woman Do?" the
author states that "Fifty-three or fifty-four years ago...there were
but seven industries open to women who wanted to work [in
Massachusetts]...it is now announced that there are more than three
hundred occupations open to women...and that 300,000 women are earning
their own living in these occupations." ("What Can A Woman Do?" by
Mrs. M.L. Rayne, 1893, Eagle Publishing Co., Albany NY, p.iv) The
reason for this change had less to do with the idea of equality than
it did with the very real fact that women without fathers or husbands
were left to starve and/or freeze if they had no way to make a living.
By 1912, Teddy Roosevelt's own Progressive Party included women
suffrage's in its platform. The vote for women was no longer just a
concern of women, and many states had granted women the right to vote
at this time. The idea that women were equal to men was taking a firm
hold on the American mind. In 1920, American women were granted the
vote.
After the vote was won, the women's right movement focused more firmly
on birth control. In the US, this movement's most ardent leader was
Margaret Sanger. She opened the first U.S. birth control clinic in
1916, but it was almost instantly closed by police. In 1917, she
helped form the National Birth Control League, which, in 1942 became
the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. "In 1936, the federal
law prohibiting dissemination of contraceptive information through the
mails was modified. Throughout the 1940s and 50s, birth control
advocates were engaged in numerous legal suits. In 1965, the U.S.
Supreme Court struck down the one remaining state law (in Connecticut)
prohibiting the use of contraceptives." ("History of the Birth Control
Movement," Fact Monster,
http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/sci/A0856928.html ) According to some
recent materials, it may be that Sanger was more interested in
controlling minority races than she was in aiding the cause of
women's rights ( http://www.expectantmothercare.org/FocusFamilyJan02.htm
), but the end result was, in a sense, a raising of women above men.
(Other than using condoms or being abstinent, men have no way to
control whether or not they have children.)
Next, women continued their battle in the workplace, arguing that
women, if equals to men, should be able to hold all the jobs men do.
Esther Peterson spearheaded this fight by convening a Commission on
the Status of Women, naming Eleanor Roosevelt as its chair in the
early 60s. From there forward, the goal of the mass women's rights
movement has been for equality, while some extremely liberal feminist
organizations battle for female superiority. For a brief 20th century
history of women's rights, visit
http://www.legacy98.org/move-hist.html
This is only an opinion, but as a student of history, and women's
history in particular, I feel that the idea that women are equal with
men has usually been the most widely felt idea about the status of
women. Sure, there have always been those that think of women as
chattels and children, but it's my opinion (after years of digging
around in history) that they were in the minority. In short, the idea
that women are equal with men is an ancient one--at least in theory.
Ideas about equality have changed dramatically through the years. What
the ancient Hebrews considered "equal" is not what most Americans
consider "equal" today, for example. But the ideal has always been
there, struggling to break through.
kriswrite
Keywords Used:
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"women's rights" history renaissance
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