Hello to my fellow Suffragettes and Suffragents!
As April 28 2012 draws near, I've been thinking about the Suffrage Movement. Both past and present. For those who don't know, or are just starting to learn about what's happening, April 28 will be the day the women in the United States get together all over the country and march against the War on Women. Events will be happening all over the country, and I encourage all to get out there and join, or even just show your support. I have graciously been allowed to use some of the information this wonderful movement has put together in this blog, so a huge thank you to www.unitewomen.org. for that!
So, first I'd like to talk about the original Suffrage Movement. Here are the links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women's_suffrage_in_the_United_States
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women's_suffrage
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/womenstimeline1.html
http://www.history.com/topics/the-fight-for-womens-suffrage
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/3/prweb9333560.htm
The first, and most documented Suffrage Movement started in 1848 and continued until around 1920. There was a period during which the movement was put on hold, during the Civil War. Technically, the movement had started several years before. Back in in the 1700's, women were allowed to vote. Then, in 1807, a law was enacted, restricting women from voting. Which was, in fact, an unconstitutional act.
Most people see Susan B. Anthony As the mother of the Suffrage Movement, but that isn't true. The first original (documented) Suffragettes were: Frances Wright, Ernestine Rose, Lucretia Mott and Margaret Fuller. Margaret Fuller was the author of the book: The Great Lawsuit; Man vs. Woman. (I've read the book. It's pretty good, being from that time. I'll provide a link to it at the end).
In 1848, Gerrit Smith, a nominee for the Liberty Party was the first documented male supporter of the Suffrage Movement. He made an impassioned speech that year, calling for universal voting rights, male and female. That year, the first woman to ever be nominated for a federal office position - Vice President. That woman was Lucretia Mott. Soon after that, more notable Suffragettes joined, such as Mary Ann M'Clintock and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
In 1850, the National Women's Rights Convention was organized for the first time. This brought together the Suffragettes that had been fighting for their rights. This convention brought with it one of the most well-known Suffragettes of all time: Susan B. Anthony.
This convention is noteworthy, mostly because it spawned some future leaders of the movement, most notably: Matilda Joslyn Gage, Abby Kelley Foster, and, of course, Sojourner Truth, who gave the speech: Ain't I a Woman? which brought supporters to their feet with cheers.
Several associations were born from this one convention, all with the same goal: Freedom and Rights.
They were blocked by most, abused, argued with, tormented, bullied. To their face, every day..obviously there were no computers back then to allow people to bully anonymously. The Suffragettes had to grow thick skin. Thicker than some of us will ever have to have. They were even bullied by other women, like Helen Kendrick Johnson.
World War I, ironically enough, was when the Nineteenth Amendment was signed, giving women the right to vote. Only because after Woodrow Wilson declared that America was a Democracy, scores of women picketed the White House, with several getting arrested.
The original Women's Suffrage Movement was, for the most part, about the right to vote, and the right to run for office. And thanks to these brave women and men who risked everything to stand up for their rights, and the rights of those who would follow after them, we now have a voice.
Which brings me to the Modern Day Suffrage Movement.
Because we have a voice, because we have voting rights, we have to exercise them. This Movement might be a little different (okay, a lot different) than the Original Movement, however, without it, we would be at square one, starting from scratch.
What is the Suffrage Movement fighting for in 2012?
Abortion Rights. Rights to make their own decisions regarding their own body. The right to proper healthcare. The right to live as they see fit. The right to avoiding abuse. The right to making their own decisions regarding health, relationships and children. The right to not be prosecuted for miscarriages. I could go on, but these are the issues I see the most.
So many rights have been taken away, or are being taken away from women right in front of us. Most of the laws that have just recently passed have been in the works for years. Some of the laws were passed last year, but done so quietly that no one noticed until someone said something.
In February, 2012, two women in separate states had connected. They were discussing the issues, and wished there was some way they could stand up against them. That was when the Unite Against The War On Women was born. These two women did what most of us had been wanting to do. They formed this group, gathered people together and promoted themselves. Let me introduce you to Karen Teegarden from Michigan and Desiree Jordan from New York. Two very extraordinary women.
Within a small time frame, their little organization grew. And grew. And grew. Once people learned about it, they joined in and asked how they could help.
Soon, the March Against the War on Women was born out of that group. And on April 28th, we will be marching all across the U.S. to protest our rights being taken from us. I can't be there, as I'm in another country, however you better believe I'll be cheering them on, blogging my heart out and getting the word out! I'll be providing links to their amazing organization, as well as to the march.
Back to the Movement. Like our sisters before us, we have faced bullying, adversity, lies and more. For example, Sandra Fluke. She went to speak about birth control. She was bullied for her efforts, called a slut, and vilified by Rush Limbaugh. But, what the politicians didn't realize, is by bullying her, they made her into a national - no - international hero for women. She represented a majority of the women that the Republican party was trying to cage.
We have been bullied, our names dragged through the mud. Most of it done by someone hiding behind a keyboard. And, like the original movement, we even have women that are against us. I am sometimes tempted to give it back as good as I get, but then I remember: I am strong; I am not alone; Nothing they say or do could ever stop me from fighting for my rights, and the rights of those who will come after us. This fight isn't just about us. It's about future generations.
Despite our best efforts to date, more restrictive laws have come to pass. The majority being about Abortion. All because some politicians whipped out their bible and interpreted passages so that it consisted with their very narrow-minded, women-fearing opinions.
This might seem completely off topic, but when the scientists came across the Mayan predictions, more specifically for the one in December 2012, I did wonder if maybe the great change that is supposed to occur is women FINALLY gaining control. Just my own thoughts. But whatever is making these lawmakers take away so many rights, the most obvious point is that WE scare them. We have too much power, in their eyes. So much power, that if we ALL united and used our power for a great cause such as this, there is NOTHING that can stop us!
Please take a look at this link:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/barbara-hannah-grufferman/unite-women-march_b_1447021.html
This is an amazing article. I've been invited to quote freely from it, but I'm kind of hoping you'll read it.
So, here are the links I have promised you:
http://unitewomen.org/unite/
http://unitewomen.org/unite/april-28-events/
http://www.facebook.com/UniteWomen?ref=ts
Margaret Fuller's book "The Great Lawuit; man vs woman"
http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/transcendentalism/authors/fuller/debate.html
http://www.maldura.unipd.it/dllags/docentianglo/dispense_fusco/Fuller.pdf
I encourage you to look up your state and see what's going on. I guarantee it will be one of the best things you ever do.
Fellow Suffragettes and Suffragents, you've got my vote. You've got my support, I'm here to help with whatever is needed. We will no longer sit back and watch our rights taken from us without our consent. This is not a war, this is a REVOLUTION.
And as always, you inspire me, you teach me. I appreciate every single one of you. Now go out there and MARCH!
Please feel free to comment below. Because, in order to be informed, you must have information. Please be respectful. Abuse, violence and trolls will be dealt with swiftly.
With the Utmost Respect,
An Ordinary Woman
April 24, 2012
*this letter can be shared, however I do not authorize any alterations.
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