2008 Woodie Awards
Women's history month comes to a close, but not without Stanton
Ericka Christensen
Issue date: 4/4/07 Section: Life
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Women's History Month could not be complete with out reflecting on the life and accomplishments of Elizabeth Cady Stanton (November 12, 1815 - October 26, 1902). Stanton was an American social activist and leading figure of the early women's rights movement. Her true brilliance is portrayed in her Declaration of Sentiments, presented at the first women's rights convention held in 1848 in Seneca Falls, New York, which was crucial in initiating the organized woman's rights and woman's suffrage movements.
The crowning achievement of this document was her ability to use the grievances listed by our fore fathers in the Declaration of Independence to bring to light their same tyrannical behavior of women in this country. Her declaration proclaimed that men and women are created equal. She proposed, among other things, a then-controversial resolution demanding voting rights for women. The final resolutions, including feminine voting rights, were passed, in no small measure, because of the support of Frederick Douglass, who attended and informally spoke at the convention. According to the North Star, published by Frederick Douglass, who stated, the document was the "grand basis for attaining the civil, social, political, and religious rights of women.
At a time when traditional roles were still very much in place, the Declaration caused extreme controversy. Many people respected the fearlessness and talent behind the drafting of the document, but were unwilling to abandon conventional mindsets. An article in the Oneida Whig published soon after the convention described the document as "the most shocking and unnatural event ever recorded in the history of womanity". Many newspapers insisted that the Declaration was drafted at the expense of women's more appropriate duties. At a time when temperance and female property rights were major issues, even many supporters of women's rights believed the Declaration's endorsement of women's suffrage would hinder the nascent women's rights movement, causing it to lose much needed public support.
The crowning achievement of this document was her ability to use the grievances listed by our fore fathers in the Declaration of Independence to bring to light their same tyrannical behavior of women in this country. Her declaration proclaimed that men and women are created equal. She proposed, among other things, a then-controversial resolution demanding voting rights for women. The final resolutions, including feminine voting rights, were passed, in no small measure, because of the support of Frederick Douglass, who attended and informally spoke at the convention. According to the North Star, published by Frederick Douglass, who stated, the document was the "grand basis for attaining the civil, social, political, and religious rights of women.
At a time when traditional roles were still very much in place, the Declaration caused extreme controversy. Many people respected the fearlessness and talent behind the drafting of the document, but were unwilling to abandon conventional mindsets. An article in the Oneida Whig published soon after the convention described the document as "the most shocking and unnatural event ever recorded in the history of womanity". Many newspapers insisted that the Declaration was drafted at the expense of women's more appropriate duties. At a time when temperance and female property rights were major issues, even many supporters of women's rights believed the Declaration's endorsement of women's suffrage would hinder the nascent women's rights movement, causing it to lose much needed public support.
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