Change of Women’s Status from the Eighteenth Century.

Change of Women’s Status from the Eighteenth Century.
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Change of Women’s Status from the Eighteenth Century.
According to Benjamin Rush, the living conditions in the United States during the revolution meant that American women had to be included in educational opportunities . Rush had much trust in the inclusion of women in matters of development. The training on principles of liberty given to men was given to women. Economic opportunities became open to American women outside Europe. This essay seeks to identify the change of women’s status from the eighteenth century through reconstruction by giving different accounts of various authors.[Foner, Eric. Voices of Freedom. WW Norton, 2008. Retrieved from file:///C:/Users/kolie/Downloads/Voices_of_Freedom_by_Eric_Foner_(z-lib.org).pdf]
Rush illustrated how the fight for independence brought assumptions on how to run societies. He mentioned certain principles that should guide women’s education. These were quite different from those in Great Britain. Women’s responsibilities and the nature of employment needed a select type of education. Rush pointed out the early marriages of women as a circumstance that deprived women an opportunity to attain quality education. America’s state of property requires people to create opportunities for themselves in various spheres of occupation. This was not attainable without the help of women in the community. Women were the stewards of their husband’s property, and education guided them on how to conduct various duties in such platforms.[Ibid.]
The duty of instructing children solely lies on women. They would not be able to do so without education. Rush believed that every citizen has an equal share of responsibility in liberty. While men have a role in the governance of a country, women need to be qualified to advise their sons on the principles of freedom. Every young lady should be familiar with the English language. She should be able to speak, read, and write well. Such proficiency would equip them with how to train their sons. Female education needs to emphasize fair and legible handwriting. Women should also know how to keep books in preparation for their duty in their country.[Foner, Eric. Voices of Freedom. WW Norton, 2008. Retrieved from file:///C:/Users/kolie/Downloads/Voices_of_Freedom_by_Eric_Foner_(z-lib.org).pdf]
Females were to learn geography and chronology to inform their knowledge of the world in general. Subjects such as chemistry and natural philosophy should also be added to the young ladies’ curriculum. These concepts are vital for women’s domestic purposes. Vocal music prepared women for their roles in public worship and eased their care while performing domestic duties. Most importantly, young ladies’ attention should focus on moral essays, poetry, and history . These branches of education should be integrated with religion to bring out better women.[Ibid.]
The abolitionist movement allowed women into the public sphere. Women were able to attend the anti-slavery meetings. Angelina and Sarah Grimke are some of the prominent women who strongly condemned slavery . They mentioned that it was first-hand evil. Angelina wrote to the Women of the South to encourage them to take a firm stance on the abolition of slavery. However, such anti-slavery meetings received many criticisms, even from other women. Those who opposed such meetings argued that it was inappropriate to have both men and women in such meetings. Catharine Beecher thought of the abolitionist movement as something dangerous. She believed that it was unwise for ladies to come together in Abolition Societies. Catharine believed that women should get what they seek through peace and love. According to her, women should never thirst for power. Catharine urged women to be more dependent and defenseless. She believed that men were the only people that were required to make appeals to rulers.[Ibid.]
Angelina Grimke wrote a series of letters to respond to Catharine Beecher’s criticism. Her letters addressed the issue of women’s rights to participate in political platforms. Her final letter was more direct on the issue of women’s rights. She argued that whatever was morally right for men should also be morally right for women . The writings of Angelina and her sister ignited discussions on the women’s movements. Angelina states that every person’s right is built on moral nature. Since rights were founded in every moral being, then both women and men had equal rights and responsibilities. She also mentions that duties and rights should never be dictated by the color of one’s skin or their eyes. According to Angelina, duties did not depend on the different sexes. It was dependent on the diversity of thought and life experiences.[Foner, Eric. Voices of Freedom. WW Norton, 2008. Retrieved from file:///C:/Users/kolie/Downloads/Voices_of_Freedom_by_Eric_Foner_(z-lib.org).pdf]
Women like Angelina shunned the idea of looking at men as warriors with a wide range of skills. They admonished viewing a woman as someone who should only be appreciated for her charms . This denied women the right to think and speak on matters that required moral reasoni...