The mid 1800’s was the beginning of social reform for women. Radicals were doing everything in their power to get women to be viewed on the same level as men. Well, not everyone opened up to radicals so the process was slow. Many knew they needed to take it one step at a time. The first step was with marriage. In April of 1848 state legislature passed a law that allowed women to maintain ownership of the land they brought into a marriage. This was a huge step. Now the idea of equality for women was on peoples’ minds if the government was taking action.
Reverend Horace Bushnell preached in 1846 about women’s influence. So what did this mean? Bushnell was letting the ladies know that men did not like to feel overpowered, especially by women, and the way to gently get them to accept the new ideas of the women were to subtly bringing it into conversation instead of approaching it fervently. Women were supposed to be gentle and soft and they could use these qualities to their advantage. Their womanly charm was a way to ease the men into a new way of thinking. This was quite different than how many other preachers preached. They argued that the “sin of Eve” was the reason for woman’s subordination to men, mainly due to the masculinity of Jesus.
Many news papers began to create stereotypes for both men and women for advocated women’s rights saying that many of the women were “old maids” and never very attractive and feminine to begin or that they have come from bad relationships and wish to put down all men. The men who participated were said to be overly influenced by their wives and “ought to wear petticoats,” (a type of woman’s wear) questing their manliness. But the fact that men were joining the fight was great for activists! They could use all the help and support they could get.
( Evans, Sara M. "A Time of Devision." Born for Liberty: A History of Women in America. New York: Free, 1989. 93-118. Print.)
No comments:
Post a Comment