You can’t stop the inevitable from happening

After Reader Chapter 3 “Slowing the momentum for women’s rights” in the Book Mightier than the Sword by Rodger Streitmatter, this is what I have gathered:

Elizabeth Cady Stanton(standing) and Susan B Anthony(seated)

Credit to wimminwiselpts.files.com

“The history of mankind is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations of the part of man toward woman, having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over her.”   This is a direct quote taken from Declarations of Sediments, which was brought upon on July 20^th, 1848 at the convention at Seneca Falls. This was the first organized meeting discussing the expansion of women rights in the United States.  were two females whose spark would cause the fire that burned through the thick walls of inferiority. Elizabeth Cady Stanton along with Susan B Anthony were the two most imposing female figures of the time whose agenda was a little too premature for the government and for the fourth estate. Regardless they decided to begin this long battle that they had no idea where it would lead.

All though the two day convention only gathered some 300 people, it caused uproar in the Press. But the agenda was important enough to invoke the involvement of African- American leader Fredrick Douglas, who fought for equality of race, but also for gender as well.

Fredrick Douglass(1852) Most noted as one of the main leaders of African- American
rights movement. He was also involed in the equalities of rights for women
Credit to Scott Horton of Harpers Magazine

The Convention at Seneca Falls and the whole idea of women’s rights movement was nothing but a laughing matter to the fourth estate and the Government. It was unimaginable for society at the time to even consider women having any outside role of the homestead. Journalist reporting on the convention called it “Ridiculous nonsense” and “Reeking Vulgarities”. Saying it was nothing less than a “women’s wrong convention”.  The newspapers around the country were filled with nothing but negative articles that were saturated with insults toward both Susan and Elizabeth, and the whole movement the women intended to start. The women continued pushing the matter but then the civil war broke out which was nothing more than a setback for the movement. But it also served as fuel for the fire because the aftermath of the civil war was the 13^th, 14^th and 15^th amendment, which granted former slaves freedom and the right to partake in voting. The women figured it was their turn, but faced heavy opposition by the rest of the Country, including obviously the press. The women who would participate in such conventions and gathering, or who simply believed those radical ideas were insulted and tarnished. The Fourth Estate argued that it was taking time away from their duties in the house hold which were more important above all. Of course Anthony and Stanton were single females, and for their marital status they were labeled as “hermaphrodites” and women with “personal attractions” to the same gender. The press holds much power and that is why it is referred to as the Fourth Estate.  Its duties are to point out what’s wrong and needs to be fixed in the country. After the civil war the country believed that nothing else needed to be addressed since African Americans were granted the right to vote, and slavery was off the checklist. So what now?

What the rest of the country did not realize is that the women who lead the march got exactly what they wanted from the press. And what could that be you may ask after years of insults and negative articles?  Well it was, PUBLICITY! Even though the press at the time degraded the movement, the essence of journalism took place and slowly but surely aroused the ear of the whole country. As mention in the book Element of Journalism by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel. Journalism is like cartography in that it informs the reader and gives an overview of what is occurring at the time. The issue of the inequality of women was becoming pretty apparent and obvious to the country and something needed to be done. This is exactly what Stanton and Anthony wanted to strive for and opened the doors for later women to come and build the fire up. This is a clear example of the power that the fourth estate holds and the negative effects it can have if it is used unwisely. But in a way the Fourth Estate was not aware of its own power, because they believed that all the insulting and downplaying would result in a burial of the matter. But it only built a rougher road for the inevitable from happening, by creating the vibe and all the hype. IN order for the Country to promote and ensure democracy, it must act and abide in a democratic way. Eventually the government, the Fourth Estate and the country eventually agreed that women’s rights should be expanded and 1918 the 19^th amendment was passed. This was Seventy Two years after the primary convention of women’s rights at Seneca Falls.

The list of men and women who signed the petition which sparked the movement of women's rights.
Image credit to: homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com