The Woman's Hour

Often, we forget that some of the rights we have were not always there and were often fought for either in real battles or political discourse (often both). The right we are talking about in this essay is a major right that was denied to these people, who made up a little more than half of the population, the right for women to vote. This form of discrimination has been with our country for over half of our country lifetime. For ages women were seen has homemakers and were restricted from the “barbaric” world of politics. Additionally, for most women around that time they were often denied an education, were discriminated in running for office, and were restricted from joining the military.

            However, in august of the year 1920 the 19^th amendment aloud women the right to vote for the first time in US history. This was a major step in gender equality and the quest to fulfill the American dream of freedom. This was a necessary progression for the United States, which is in a huge part due to the suffragist (suffs) who fought in the courts to the floors of congress to get this amendment passed. In this essay, we will explore how the women’s movement for freedom started, how the amendment was passed, and how it changes our country for the better. Additionally, we will look at some of the issue that effect women today and how the brave feminist movement will push us forward in progressing our society.

How did the push for women’s equality begin and why?

            The Woman’s right movement doesn’t begin with women, it begins with another struggle for the right to freedom. The abolitionist movement to free African American slaves from bondage is arguable the starting factor that led to the fight for women suffrage. In America before the start of the civil war abolitionists were fighting for the emancipation of slaves from bondage. A cut above the rest of the abolitionist where the radical abolitionist who wanted to give blacks the right to vote and grant them a form of equality. This radical form of the movement help starts the idea and eventually the movement for woman’s suffrage which would lead to the eventually 19^th amendment which give women the right to vote.

            Around the 1830’s and 1840’s the Grimke sister’s “left their slaveholding home and risked their lives to speak out publicly against the evils of the slavery system,” {1} They were among the first women leaders in the abolition movement. Moving north they found themselves a home with the high-level northern clergymen and other abolitionists who found themselves against the sister for being pro-suffrage. Often criticism for their “unruly” conduct and anti-traditional stance on a women’s right to express herself. Their where plenty of other women who faced problems for supporting this motion, and some notable men as well including the great intellectual Fredrick Douglas who is well known for is fiery speeches and anti-conformist style. A terrific abolitionist group who was more sympathetic to the women’s suffrage movement was the American Anti-Slavery Society leaders, William Lloyd Garrison, and Wendell Phillips, “instead on this highly unusual gender equality...” {1}

            A determined lady named Elizabeth Cady who was inspired to fight for women’s right by watching the horrible things women had to go through during court battle that his father was judge of. She “picked up a copy of the most revolutionary document she knew, Mr. Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence,” {1} With this she made her own Declaration of Sentiments which promoted women’s suffrage and address other issues women where subjugated to by the patriarchal society in which they lived in. This was the start of the full-blown women’s movement for freedom and change. Eventually the movement would have evolved in the National American Woman Suffrage Association and their radical (And in my opinion braver) splinter group the Woman’s Party.

What impact did the fifteenth amendment have on the movement?

            First, what is the fifteenth amendment, well in short it is the amendment that aloud black men to vote in national elections. This pivotal right was vote for by the radical abolitionist and free black men who where still living under the subjugation of their former masters through fear and intimidation. “…they would limit migratory rights, or any other essential human rights to themselves, and which would make them the owners of this great continent to the exclusion of all others races of men.” {2} This truth was due to white southerner (and for that matter white northerners as well) subjugated the recently freed black men with a form of enslavement through various methods of discrimination. However, when the fifteenth amendment had pass it finally aloud black men to vote.

            How did this influence the woman’s suffrage movement? Well, it helps start a conversation around that fact that is black men (who white people at that time viewed as inferior) where aloud to vote, why weren’t women aloud to vote? Though this argument is clearly racist it did start a national debate across the country on women’s suffrage which would eventually lead to women of every race getting the right to vote. Additionally, in context, this was a very progressive and anti-authoritarian argument that would have shock the men who where running the country at that time.

Around the turn of the century, what factors contributed to the increased popularity of women’s suffrage?

            The women’s suffrage movement was largely ignored before the start of the First World War. When the war started men were drafted for volunteered to the military which left the workforce at home empty. Someone at home needed to build bombs, make guns, and clothing for the soldiers who were off to war. This role was filled by those who were not allowed to join the armed forces at that time, women. “..Woman Suffrage organizations enthusiastically enlisted in the effort. Women sold war bonds, organized patriotic rallies, and went to work in war production jobs.” {3}

            This led to suffrages being viewed as pro-American and pro-freedom. Additionally, this led to a great argument, that if women were forced to pay taxes why could they not vote? This is an argument that dates to the revolutionary wartimes or in other words “taxation without representation.”

What were the arguments for and against suffrage?

            For this part, I want to talk about the anti-suffrage side for they are in a theoretical “defended hill” in which they hold to traditional views on women and their “place” in American Politics. The first and most powerful argument used to gain the support of southern Democrats was the argument from racial supremacy. The argument is “if a federal amendment mandated suffrage for all women, that would mean black women too.” {1} anti-suffragist where terrified at the idea that a women of color could have equal statis as straight white men. The second big argument against women suffrage was the idea of women purity. The idea that politics would affect women by having “her morals sullied and even corrupted.” {1} Politics was viewed as a grim duty that men must endure to keep his family afloat and away form corruption. The idea that the man was the head of the household and it caretaker is an idea rooted in religious theology and clerical manipulation. Finally, a rather minor and selfish argument made against women’s suffrage was the fear of the federal government enforcing prohibition. Tennessee in particular (that last state needed for the nineteenth amendment) was famous for it whiskey and having women vote to enforce a ban on it was almost unthinkable.

            Those who were on the side of woman’s suffrage were on a side that consistently faced heavy criticism from those who were on the side of traditional values, thus they had to be rock steady in their arguments to push for the motion that women deserved the right to vote. I have mentioned two of the big arguments briefly earlier in this essay. First, is the argument that is men of color where aloud to vote, why should women not be able to vote? Second, is the argument from taxation, which entails that if women paid taxes why should they not have a say in government? This first argument as mentioned before is based in racism however it was a powerful argument for women suffrage at that time. The argument for taxations is a very technical and simple argument that could be used in a quick point for women suffrage but lack some of the meat it needed to hit the nail on the head. The best argument in my opinion is the argument from natural rights. If we have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, would it not be okay for women to vote on things that could protect those rights? For example, drunk men often abuse women, would it not be in the best interest is women had a right to vote to ban such offences?

            Reading the works of antisuffragists and suffragist really shows what was on people’s mind in the 1920’s. Along with women’s right the ideas of racial equality and personal liberty was in question all the time. It was a battle between conservative thinking and progressive ideals.

How was women’s suffrage finally won, and which men and women playing a pivotal role in the final vote in Tennessee in the summer of 1920?

            Their where thousands of unnamed men and women who help pushed for women’s suffrage. Without the “foot soldiers” the movement would have never got off the ground; therefore, they deserve a minimum of a thank you for their duty. However, the leaders of the movement who organized the movement and defending often at their own peril, really got the movement to achieve what it had achieved.

            First, I want to mention the president of the NAWSA Carrie Catts was pivotal in the movement finally strides and eventual success in getting the nineteenth amendment passed. She came all the down to Tennessee to talk to the governor (Albert Roberts who is a rather hesitative at the idea of women voting) to convinced him about the morality and ideals of the cause of women’s suffrage. Catts “devoted half of her life to the Cause,” {1} and did everything she could to make her dream, no, her mission a reality. A radical suffragist whom Catt was worried about her negative effect on the outcome of the decision, Alice Paul, a member of the Woman’s Party. The Woman’s party was known for radical takes such as being extremely anti-war, protesting in front of capital buildings, and wearing more revealing clothing. They often went to jail for the cause, this included Alice Paul who wore her prison pendant with pride.

            Men who help pushed the movement were President Woodrow Wilson who declared his support for women suffrage to help get the League of Nations passed in the congress. Mr. Harding who was blackmailed into supporting the movement, yet he played a rule in women suffrage. Finally, Governor Albert Roberts of Tennessee who eventually help the state vote for the motion of women suffrage.

Defining Feminism….

            Feminism is a hard thing to define because many ideas, and there are many idea that feminist have that could contradict each other, for example some feminist are pro-life, while others are pro-choice. Catt says it best during her speech that “{2} …who know better than women what is good for them.”. Feminism is the idea of women fighting conventional authority to gain equal rights with the opposite gender.

How is feminism impactful?

            Feminism help change our view on women as being equal partners and has equal citizens. However legally they help change the way men treated women. On of the biggest pieces of legislation that was passed that helped women is the VAWA (the Violence Against Women’s Act.) This set of laws and guidelines is meant to help women who experience domestic abuse, stalking, relationship abuse, and other forms of abuse. These laws are meant to give women the resources they need to deal with these issues. Another older supreme court decision that was recently revoked, but I should mention it is the Roe V. Wade case. This aloud a woman the right to a legal abortion. However, it was recently overturned by radical conservatives in the supreme court.

What challenges do women face in the US today regarding their rights and equality?

            Women face a plethora of challenges in the United States that sadly limit their freedom and ability to participate in our still patriarchal society. First, women in the US are suffering from abortion ban which limit their liberty on what they can and cannot be due with their body. This recent set of bans (including one here in Wyoming) is due to the Roe V. Wade case being overturned allowing for the criminalization of abortions being up to the individual states. This can lead to women having unwanted pregnancies that could harm their life, or even give birth to babies of their rapist or even babies made through incest. Second, would be the wage gap.” In 2022, American women typically earned 82 cents for every dollar earned by men.” {6} This means women are having a harder time making money and supporting their families.

How are you impacted by the continued fight for equal rights?

            Reading this book and the stories of abolitionists, suffragists, and people defending their rights to liberty, life, and the pursuit of happiness was very inspiring to me. Not only had it broadened my view on American history, but it showed me the revolutionary spirit that is in our country. The idea that ideals in our country should be challenges and change for the better. One of the more inspirational fights for me is the fight for LGBTQ+ people seeking equality with all Americans. I have a little sibling who identifies as non-binary and pansexual. Seeing her struggle in school with dealing with bullying due to this really fires me up in learning about these issues and how to help people like this struggling with their issues.

Conclusion.

            We can conclude that women suffrage was a hard-fought battle. It took millions of people fighting for the right of women to vote and be equal with their male counterpart. Carrie Catts help guide the movement into the new age leading to the creation of modern feminism and the ideals of which all people are created equal.

Work Cited:

Weiss, Elaine. The Woman’s Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote. 3.6.2018 {1}

Foner, Eric. Voices of Freedom: A Documentary History. Vol.2. 6^th edition. 7.12.2004 {2}

Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty! An American History. Vol.2. 6^th edition. 9.2.2010 {3}

Work Cited Links

Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) | HUD.gov / U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) {4}

Roe v. Wade | Summary, Origins, & Influence | Britannica {5}

The Gender Wage Gap Endures in the U.S. | Pew Research Center {6}