Womens rights

Women lived a significantly different life style in the 1800’s than they do today. The Lavender article, which we read in class discusses the average women lifestyle in the 1800’s. Religious devotion, submissiveness, purity and domesticity were considered the main characteristics for an ideal women. A women role was to take care of the household and children. During this time there was the private sphere and the public sphere. The private sphere was the life that the women were upholding in the household(cleaning cooking etc.). The public sphere was the world of work. Often thought of as too dangerous or to rough for women, the public sphere was the everyday lives of men filled with temptation and dangers. The home was thought of as the rightful place for a women. Women of the 18th century lived a life of dependance out of the public eye.

The Seneca Falls Convention was organized to change the view of women in society. This was the first of many women rights conventions and it focused on religious and civil rights for women. During this convention, a  document was written up that resembles the Declaration of Independence. Known as The Declaration of Sentiments, this document was signed by both men and women in hopes for a society were women have equal rights. The convention was very controversial at the time. Topics like women suffrage left an uneasy felling among some men. In years before this breakthrough, a mans vote was to represent both partners in the marriage, however many times the women voice was lost along the way. Suffrage and domestic violence were considered top priority for many women.

Although the Seneca Falls Convention was considered highly successful in creating equal rights for women, the majority of women in america were not allowed to participate. Upper class white women were only allowed to participate in this conference. Unfortunately, native american women, african american women and lower class white women were all left out of this convention. During class, we made a list of the most important rights we thought woman should have. The class decided that freedom of speech, nonconsensual martial rape laws and equal rights to men were the most important solutions that should have come from the Seneca Falls convention.

I think that freedom of speech and domestic violence are the most important resolutions discussed at the convention. Without the right to speech, no changes would be made in the future regarding gender equality. It is important that woman have the right to voice there opinions without there spouses. It is equally important that domestic violence is outlawed. In 2014 we have laws that protect couples from physical abuse. Recent scandals of domestic abuse include the Adrian peterson case. Men should have the right to physically harm a women. Although the United States protects women from domestic abuse there are till many countries were it is not outlawed. The Seneca falls convention was just the beginning of the fight for women rights. We have come along way since the 1800’s, but there is still a lot of work that needs to be done.