An Examined History of The Woman's Rights Movement: Leadership and Modern Implications

While much historical research and investigation into the beginning of the woman's rights movement centers around the suffrage issues of voting in the United States, the fact of the matter is that its noble battles were fostered by extraordinary leadership and inspired a myriad of rights for women globally into today's modern era by purveyors such as Emma Goldman. It is common knowledge that in early United States history African-Americans as well as women did not have the legal right to vote. As mind-blowing as it may seem nowadays, the situation seemed normal back then. American nurses as a specialized segment of women, understood particularly well the implications of women gaining the franchise. As one article's  observation from “National Nurse” put it “nurses realized they needed to simultaneously work on broader issues for working people, such as poor sanitation, disease, overcrowding, poverty, child labor, and lack of educational opportunities” (“A Storied History”). Key players in this life-changing historical drama include Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Each of their names symbolizes the courage and leadership that energized the movement.

In this examination a brief look at the beginning of the woman's right movement in America shall hopefully shed light on the general framework and sacrifices involved. An emphasis upon the leadership of Elizabeth Cady Stanton helps to draw insight into a description of how her publicly recognized role was gained. It is vital to remember that women's rights movement involved larger significance beyond voting power alone. Its inspiration and influence spread all over the world to encourage women of today who still fight for equal rights in all realms, such as areas of labor rights and property rights.

Although most people may be familiar with Blacks marching on Washington for equal rights, it may be lesser known that a similar march occurred on March 13, 1913 of women. They made their “grand procession” to the White House on the heels of the lifelong work of pioneers like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. (“A Storied History”). Surprisingly, many of the women who joined that protest were jailed.  Stanton, considered the Founding Mother of the movement helped solidify such passions in the women's suffrage movement which grew to influence and motivate women on today's world-stage of events. The most “ambitious project” for Stanton came in the form of a three-volume written work entitled “History of Woman Suffrage” according to Hogan.

The time it took for Stanton to engage in her writing the book came at no small price. Stanton extensively gathered documents for a full five years before actually penning the publication. In an exhaustive effort and although the writing was shared with Anthony, Hogan declares that Stanton's six-volume project comprised “nearly a thousand pages” each (4). Broken down in yearly segments for example, Volumes One and Three cover the periods of 1848-1861 and 1886-1885 respectively. Speeches, debates, and conventions characterized the women's struggles by dotting the social and political landscape in making their presence and cause known. Aside from the now-famous Seneca Falls Convention in New York of 1848, Stanton gave a rousing poignant speech when she had reached 77-years of age.  

The setting for her address, entitled “Our Foremothers” Stanton's delivery perhaps represented the undoubted mark and pinnacle of her endeavor towards the fight for equality. According to Hogan, Stanton's audience included the 200-member New York City's Woman Suffrage League, where she offered props to Abigail Adams and others acknowledging that “they struggled bravely” (3). Additionally Hogan informs Stanton cried “Let us be faithful in proclaiming the moral necessities of the time in which we live, demanding equal rights” for men too, and those of “every color and nationality” (3). Stanton's historical contributions as a pioneer in leadership and activism carved a pathway for the woman's movement internationally, and clearing the difficult road for women struggling in all realms. Beyond Congressional debates and Supreme Court decisions, Stanton may never have dreamed her undaunted pressing forward would inspire generations of women worldwide – on into contemporary times. 

A champion of woman suffrage, Stanton's dedication sparked other related and important issues to surface. Public exposure and socio-political pressure in other arenas would bring to mind labor rights and property rights. The labor rights of immigrants predominantly based in Los Angeles, California involves a base of Mexican and Central American working women who mainly focus on labor unions in terms of civil rights. Although these women are unauthorized immigrants by status, Milkman and Terriquez note their idea extends to better comprehend the “difficulties,” and “dynamics of female labor force participation” (725). Span the globe to India, where Stanton sure has inspired the improvement of property rights for women. 

American women overall, may not be fully aware of the women in India today who struggle for the property rights of married women. As a social movement historians and legal experts have become involved. One researcher in a discussion of strategies and frameworks, Soma Chaudhuri advises how crucial it is to correctly frame the argument, “interpret the relevant cause, and mobilize support” (634). In an exploration of data and methods about the problem, it's observed that the women in India's fight for legal property equality has continued in phases. Some of the shifts represented move from engaging a British audience, to Indian modern-day bureaucrats. In an effort to unbind the chains presently preventing married Indian women from disposing of inherited property as they see fit, Hindu religious cultural practices often hinder progress.

From the early 19th century United States history of the woman's suffrage movement, actors such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton considerably enlivened a movement in the world of women that endures to this very moment. The woman's rights movement reaches onward, and keep on pushing.

Works Cited

"A Storied History." National Nurse, vol. 38, no. 3, 2012, pp.723-752. Academic Search Premier. 

Chaudhuri, Soma. "The Fight For Property Rights: How Changes In Movement Actors And History Brought About The Changes In Frames In A Single Movement." Comparative Studies Of South Asia, Africa, & The Middle East 30.3 (2010): 633-643. International Security & Counter Terrorism Reference Center. 

Hogan, Lisa Shawn. "Wisdom, Goodness And Power: Elizabeth Cady Stanton And The History Of Woman Suffrage." Gender Issues vol. 38, no. 3, 2012, pp.723-752.. Academic Search Premier.

Milkman, Ruth, and Veronica Terriquez. "We Are The Ones Who Are Out In Front": Women's Leadership In The Immigrant Rights Movement." Feminist Studies, vol. 38, no. 3, 2012, pp.723-752. Academic Search Premier.