Stanton

What power has man had over women, according to Stanton?

Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a very strong woman back in her time. She always strove to be the best and even surpassed the boys that she studied with. This was not common whatsoever as women were normally raised to be content with what they have. She always wanted more and because she could do just as well, if not better than the boys, she thought it was only fair for her and women in general to have equal rights. After a plateau in her life with marriage, she decided it was time to organize a women’s meeting to better women’s rights. She called together a bunch of other ladies and decided to speak up against the oppression of women. She used the outline of the Declaration of Independence to organize her speech.

Stanton began with an introduction stating their so called ‘breakaway’ from oppression. She stated all the reasons how man had power over women. She explained that the biggest power was that man had established absolute tyranny over women. This lead to all the other oppressions and struggles a woman faces in the strive to freedom. She makes the point that it is sad that foreigners have more rights than women born in the United States have. She thinks that it is wrong and that women have all the right to rights in this country.

The power includes not being able to keep their own money, not being able to divorce a horrible husband, not being able to vote, not being able to own her own land and not even being able to attend the same colleges men do. All these points were made by Stanton and were worded in a powerful, determined way that it would be hard to not listen if you were there in the room that day. All these oppressions are very valid, and women would have every right to be upset. Thankfully women continued to speak up, otherwise we would still have to obey the men, and I’d have a difficult time biting my tongue.