LITR 4232: American Renaissance
University of Houston-Clear Lake
Student Presentation, spring 2001

Reader: Lisa Runnels

Discussion Notes: Cleo Huval-Moore, Sonja Phillips:

February 13, 2001

Elizabeth Cady Stanton

I'm going to read portions of the essay and the Declaration of Sentiments written by Elizabeth Cady Stanton as it relates to course objective 3, using literature as a basis for discussing representative problems and subjects of American culture. This is very clearly an issue dealing with gender, but includes race because the women's rights movements intertwined themselves into the rights of minorities most notably African Americans.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton is remembered best for the women's movement and her association with Susan B. Anthony. Ms. Anthony was more of an organizer and fundraiser, while Stanton expressed the philosophy of the movement in written form. Elizabeth Cady was born on November 12, 1815 into a somewhat privileged life. There were eleven children, but six died, including all of her brothers. Her father even voiced his wish that she had been a boy. From an early age Mrs. Stanton understood that because she was female her options were limited. She met her husband, Henry, who was an abolitionist, in the 1830's, and they were married in May of 1840. She did put her goals on hold for a time because of raising her own family. Largely because of the work she did, the Nineteenth Amendment was passes on August 26, 1920. The unfortunate part is that Mrs. Stanton did not live to see this victory because she died in 1902.

Page 2033 in the second paragraph beginning in the fifth line.

Prior to this passage she wrote of the hardships she was experiencing with home and family due to illness. She wasn't just full of discontent, but tired and confined in her ability to voice her feelings. Mrs. Stanton is aware of the role expected of women because she lived the role, but unlike most women of this time refused to accept that she was helpless. She states plainly that within the confines of their station women had power, but it is outside the home, without the family, meaning husband, she is not even recognized as a person.

Page 2034 in the second full paragraph starting in the third line.

A "Woman's Rights Convention" was organized in a weeks time and lasted for two days. Because these women took matters into their own hands and had the "nerve" to organize a convention to speak out about the injustices women were forced to live by, they were attacked verbally. Change doesn't come easy and there is always a price to pay. These women and men pushed society to look at a real problem and insisted that a solution be found. This push created fear, and we always attack what we don't understand. These women were not saying that they didn't want to be wives and mothers, just that they wanted the same recognition as men in society.

Declaration of Sentiments

On page 2035, under the Declaration of Sentiments in the second paragraph.

What becomes obvious is that by adding just two words (and women) in the Declaration of Sentiments, a power is given that is threatening. Until this movement, women worked and existed within a "woman's sphere". The rights and freedoms given to them, by men, had to be confined within this bubble of wife, children, housework and sometimes--if allowed--charity work through the church. She doesn't stop there, but by saying that it is the right of those who suffer to refuse allegiance, she is in effect threatening the institution of government. These are not just powerful words, but dangerous. She is in fact making everyone think, and when we think we become a danger. As women we start to question the powers that be, and this was unacceptable. Mrs. Stanton uses words like "demand, tyranny, oppressed, civilly dead, depriving". These are thought provoking words for someone--say, a woman--who feels that she deserves more.

On page 2036 I'll read just a few of the passages.

Mrs. Stanton doesn't just ask you to look at the problems with the lack of women's rights, she points to them, highlights them and writes, let's change this and take what is ours by birth.

What makes Elizabeth Cady Stanton such a powerful writer is that she works the reader up emotionally. Any woman reading all of this is sure to reach the end wanting to go out and tackle the world. These words written in the 19^th century are still forceful enough that we respond and want to continue the changes started not all that long ago.

Discussion note by Sonja Phillips

Observations:

Lynn said, "as a parent she feels that discrimination has flipped the other way, she has three boys and feels that people are always showing a preference for girls. People feel sorry for her because she doesn't have a girl."

Thomas said, "There is still discrimination against women and that men still make more money."

Following a suggestion by a student from the Early American Literature course, Dr. White had us read pg. 905, an Abigail Adams quote.

Cleo said, "That single women were being taxed with no voice, it reminded her of Taxation without representation. How the while man felt about the taxes to England and the Boston Tea Party.

Lacey said, "Fuller was up and down to her. She felt like she was on a roller coaster, jumping from point to point. One minute Fuller was male-bashing then she would say that it's not all the men's fault."

Dr. White acknowledged the position of women was socialized into her thoughts.

Discussion notes by Cleo Huval-Moore

Lynn observed how viewpoints had turned and many people prefer having daughters to boys today. The difference of the sex line is decreasing and equality is strengthened. Lynn also stated that the writings are still relevant today because gender discrimination remains.

Thomas commented that women today still make less money. Women professors tenured number lass than their male counterparts.

Joanne added that is was ironic that her nineteen-year-old is not responsible enough to her grandmother to lead her life, but not a generation conflict.

Valerie used the Abigail Adams letter on page 905 to indicate her thoughts on women's rights written during the Declaration of Independence.

Crystal noted Fuller did some male bashing but still recognized it was not all the male's fault.

Dr. White spoke on the need for Fuller and others not to alienate the powers in their path for equality.

Erin commented on the socialization of thought and asked why the women of Fuller's day did not use their motherhood as a means to change cultural ideals on the role of women through the teaching to their own sons, but they seemingly did not.

Charley added that sons had to grow up before rights for women trickled down to the home level.

Dr. White said that progress was extremely slow and there was resistance to the idea of women's rights due to the mobile nature of the U.S. The constant change to the family broke down the nuclear family from a traditional family. Stanton on page 2032 wrote about the isolated household. Men wanted to keep on thing in place, the woman, as an anchor for stability in the ever-changing world. Even today there is reaction to women's freedoms.

Lacey brought up the biblical structure to the argument against women's rights.