Leading Post: Stanton, Truth, and Dubois

Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions – Elizabeth Cady Stanton

By modeling this declaration for women’s rights off of the Declaration of Independence, Stanton is trying to make the connection that they are no different in what they represent. Both declarations were written as a result of making the decision to break away from an oppressing force. By use of comparisons, Stanton is essentially making the point that the call for equality is not far-fetched. In this declaration, Stanton lists her “sentiments” including the observation that men monopolize the job market. Following these lists of inequalities that she tries to illuminate, Stanton lists a set of resolutions, changes she wants to see implemented. These changes not only focus on legislative changes to include women in politics, but also include the expectations of women in public to match those of men. The purpose of Stanton writing this declaration is to publicly voice the inequalities observed everyday, but goes unaddressed. By doing so, Stanton is empowering the women among the three hundred that attended to look at their situation differently and ask for more.

Two Speeches – Sojourner Truth

Sojourner Truth, through repetition, questions all of the claims that speak to why females should remain subordinate to their male counterparts. She challenges arguments founded on physical capabilities, religious texts, and even hypothetical situations of women wanting more and more. With each of these rebuttals, she brings her focus to the fact that none of these arguments against women rights are grounded in fact, which leads to her questioning society: Why not?

Being a black woman, Sojourner Truth was torn as to which movement she would devote her passion towards. In her second speech in 1867, Sojourner Truth is disappointed to see that after men of color received the right to vote, the debate for women to gain suffrage was nonexistent. Truth recognizes that it is hard for the government (ruled by men) to consider such things because they still “think like a slaveholder,” which is a great example of internalized superiority. However, Truth still asks for the government to go through with giving equal rights to all types of people, regardless of how much it pains them because that is what’s right.

Feminism Old Wave and New Wave – Ellen DuBois

DuBois gives her readers a historical overview of feminism and the waxing and waning of each wave. The first wave of feminism grew out of their active participation in the abolitionist movement. As a result of their hard work not being rewarded and instead, separated from the leadership positions that men held, feminists joined together in this realization. DuBois also touched on something very interesting – how the feminist movement was perceived outside of the United States. The British were disgusted at the realization that they were collaborating with active women, even if it were for a positive agenda such as abolition. Just like how Friedan had illuminated the women’s role as a “sacrificer”, the waning of the first wave occurred as these feminists left their active roles for patriotic work. By the second wave, trends were observed. Waves of feminism seemed to be triggered by a realization of oppression, followed by discussion, a rising of interest and a call for action. DuBois questions how many times this has to occur for equality to be realized. She hopes for the second wave to be the last, but we all know by this time that DuBois was wrong.