Assignment task: What is a good peer response to this?
In the 19th century, American Women underwent much suffering, violating their human and civil rights. So many limitations were imposed on women in various sectors, including work, marriage, and politics. They were victims of economic and social discrimination, which violated their civil and human rights. Due to the increased suffering, the women's movement was developed in the mid-19th century to help address women's rights and equal treatment of both genders. The sufferings of 19th-century American Women gave rise to feminism.
The writings of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Sarah Moor Grimke, and Kate Chopin reveal the various forms of suffering that 19th-century American woman underwent. Women were denied equal rights with their male counterparts on matters of work. Women were discouraged from getting into the employment sector. They were limited to motherhood and marriage and were to depend on their husbands for financial help. Stanton authored "the Declaration of Sentiments," a document that sought to elevate the position of women in society. In this document, she highlighted several challenges that married women encountered, such as the inability to control family property and difficulty gaining custody in divorce since they had no right to vote (The declaration of sentiments and resolution, n.d). From this, we learn that women were also denied the right to vote. This violates civil and human rights since everyone has the right to vote, irrespective of gender.
Considerably, Grimke wrote several letters on the equality of sexes and the condition of women. In those letters, she addressed several sufferings women underwent during the 19th century. She poured out her thoughts on women suffering and emphasized the equality of all sexes. From her letters, women were denied equal rights with their male counterparts, so she used the Bible to explain that no supremacy was accorded to men, and hence all sexes should be treated equally (Grimke, 1837). Women were required to promote the welfare of men without focusing on their happiness. To Grimke, this was a form of slavery for 19th-century women.
Moreover, Kate Chopin's novel 'The Awakening" reveals women's suffering. The book focuses on self-identity among women and society's view of women. According to Kate, in the 19th century, women were denied the right to pursue their self-interests (Chopin, 1895). Society expected them to stick to domestic work, such as taking care of children and other house chores. They were not to engage in any income-generating activities. Generally, the 19th-century woman had no life beyond family and marriage. This was a form of oppression and denial of rights to women. Women have the fundamental right to enjoy equal opportunities with men.
In conclusion, 19th-century American women were exposed to several sufferings that denied them some civil and human rights. Women were not to engage in politics. They were also not required to engage in any income-earning activity since their work revolved around family and marriage life. In the 19th century, American women had no voice. These sufferings denied women their fundamental right to equal treatment and the civic right to vote. They were also denied rights to self-expression or the right to pursue self-interests. Although the situation today has improved, there still exists room for improvement to attain equality between men and women fully.
References:
Chopin, K. (1895). The story of an hour. KateChopin
Grimke, S. M. (1837). The condition of women in the United States. In J. Kurtz (Ed.), American literature I: An anthology of texts from early America through the civil war. Virtual Library of Virginia Open Publishing.
The declaration of sentiments and resolution. National Women's History Museum. (n.d.).