Grossberg And Hartog Reaction Paper

Therefore, the emergence of divisive new ideas indicated a progressive movement towards greater maternal rights was underway.

Press coverage of the convention was suprisingly broadly covered, but not positive at all, especially on topics concerning female suffrage. Several papers including Philedelphia's Public Ledger and Daily Transcipt, and the New York Herald, published issues about the Declaration. The document was referred to as 'amusing'.

Today marriage is seen as an expression of deep love and respect for another person. In Austen’s time, a ‘good’ marriage was seen to be one where wealth and social status of the man and woman were socially suitable. There was very

He claims that the nation’s teachings of religion and industry encourage American women to rank business over pleasure. The women associate domestic duties with tranquility, honor, and societal acceptance. In general, reason, habit, and education influence the American wife’s commitment to her marriage and family. The writer argues that democratic wives also only marry once their reason has been exercised and matured, unlike aristocratic women (566). Aristocratic law, birth and fortune prevent husbands and wives from forming strong, permanent connections. Yet, the “equality of conditions” that exists in democratic societies reduces marital disorder and encourages women to believe that they are worthy enough to marry their desired partners (568). Moreover, the democratic public more openly accepts the imperfections of the women because they have been thoroughly educated to make choices that benefit the family and state. Democracy teaches and emphasizes the role of both women and men within a democratic marriage prior to the marriage. Aristocratic marriages seek to combine material interests instead of individuals. However, the desire for material goods fails to permanently unite the hearts of the aristocratic husband and wife. In contrast, the democratic husband and wife remain permanently united through mutual tastes and ideas (569). The free will that democratic

Colonial American citizens faced several challenges through the time span of the 16th century to the 18th century. It was a time of great change and growth as well as being full of obstacles. The Revolutionary War, hostile Native American tribes, harsh living conditions, and disease all played factors in the struggle for survival in early America. However, there is a topic that is also significant but not discussed as often. Marriage was a confusing and exhausting situation for many individuals. One may wonder, ”What were the challenges of finding a spouse during the Colonial Era in American history?” It was difficult for young men and women to find a suitable marriage partner who would meet all their needs or standards and stay by their side till death do they part. Oftentimes, there was no choice in the matter. During this timeframe in American history, there were several barriers that affected whom one was allowed to marry. These obstacles included race, culture, social and economic status.

In her essay, Woman in the Nineteenth Century, Margaret Fuller discusses the state of marriage in America during the 1800‘s. She is a victim of her own knowledge, and is literally considered ugly because of her wisdom. She feels that if certain stereotypes can be broken down, women can have the respect of men intellectually, physically, and emotionally. She explains why some of the inequalities exist in marriages around her. Fuller feels that once women are accepted as equals, men and women will be able achieve a true love not yet known to the people of the world.

As an adult woman treated as property or told what to do is vandalizing once freedom to have a saying in the world. Abigail Adam’s, “Last Act of Defiance” uses diction and tone to help emphasize the unalienable rights women do not have and are being seen as property than an individual citizen with rights. In addition, Abigail Adam writes to her husband John Adam to not forget the rights for women. The reason for that is because women right were limited; not consider too much freedom when giving the meaningful signature signing away their freedom to their man; which is a sad challenge a woman had to face back in 1776. Another thing Mrs. Adams stood up for the rights of women by being a mini revolution. One

Marriages tended to be for strategic purposes rather than love, so family life in the Elizabethan Era was different than family life today ("Elizabethan Family Life” 1).

Over the course of many years, women have struggled to expand their roles and rights in society, hoping to one day achieve complete equality with their male counterparts. Two women, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Judy (Syfers) Brady, both recognized the patriarchal society in which women had to endure. They despised the way it heaped inequality and servitude upon women, and decided to assert their opinion on the issue in order to change the perceptions and imposed limitations on women. In Stanton’s speech, “Declaration of Sentiments”, and in Brady’s article, “I Want a Wife”, both women attempt to convince their audiences that females deserve complete equality with men by stating the submissive situations and obligations women find themselves immersed in. This is done to get their female audiences to reevaluate how they have been treated and give them a second chance at attaining equality. Both women employ various rhetorical techniques in their arguments to strengthen, as well as compel other women to oppose the ‘domesticated’ image of women. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Judy (Syfers) Brady expressed their views in pursuance of forging a path to a revamped lifestyle for women.

In regards to marriage, there was a smaller percentage of individuals who got married again after divorce, and there was no such thing as long distance relationships. In colonial times, the relationship between a husband and his wife raises the questions of what the positions are for men and women, and what values were associated with each sex. Men were considered the “head of household” and were the only people to be deemed “freemen.” So, how was marriage considered a contract of survival? Demos gives the readers multiple examples and insight about the family life back in the Plymouth Colony. Women were included under their husbands, not recognized as their own individual selves when married. Demos states, “The married woman, indeed, was largely subsumed under the legal personality of her husband; she was virtually without rights to own property, make contracts, or sue for damages on her own account.” (Demos, 84). To back up his argument, Demos gives the reader the example of colonial wives being able to have the rights to property. The law only specifically addressed women and property rights when it came to them being widows. It was said that widows should have the use or profit from only one third of the land that her husband owned by the time of his death. The law also addressed women’s denied rights to make contracts. The only exception to this rule was in the event that a woman who is a widow, decides to marry again. In

She feels it is wrought with sexuality and temptation, not only in the media but in the clothing choices of Americans. She finds the media images of women very offensive because of their lack of clothing and sexual suggestions. She believes that this objectification of women is immoral in all senses, and criticizes the media for such actions. What upsets her even further, is that regular American women dress and act in a similar manner to these media portrayals. She believes that women should not parade their bodies around as such. When other women expose themselves, she herself feels exposed. Her and these women all have a female body under their clothing, so when women dress in a revealing way, men can easily imagine what they look like naked. This makes Abigail feel that men can thus imagine her body as well. She worries that they may feel prompted to have inappropriate thoughts about her if this idea is brought to their attention. How then also will women expect to be given any respect or to have a proper family? I interpreted Abigail’s words to be similar to Katz’s view that “If she is normally developed…her sexual desire is small. If this were not the case, the whole world would become a brothel and marriage and a family impossible.” (31). When women dress so promiscuously, they seem to create a sexual environment that would make legitimate marriage impossible. This, in Abigail’s view, is occurring in America now, as the majority of relationships involve pre-marital sex and divorce rates are increasing. Women must be modest to keep order in the world. This idea makes it clear that women are valued for their ability to provide sex. It seems, women can mainly gain respect by withholding the one thing men want, and if they give that up, then they are useless to men and

Abigail even went so far as to ambiguously threaten her husband and the social order of the day by stating that if care and attention are not paid to ladies, they would rebel and would not consider their selves bound to obey laws in which they have no representation. This statement was eerily similar to the declaration that Mr. Adams wrote in the declaration against England. In defiance to his wife’s request, Adams, underscored “all men are created equal.”

During the Revolution women whose husbands were fighting for freedom played a significant role in the Emancipation of women. On March 31, 1776 Abigail Adams wife of John Adams, wrote a letter to her husband who was in Philadelphia in the Continental Congress. The letter shows the dire circumstances women were steeped in. She reminded her husband to ‘Remember the Ladies’. “We will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation. Regard us then as Beings placed by providence under your protection and in imitation of the Supreme Being make use of that power only for our happiness” (Maclean 1).

Lady Catherine’s reaction demonstrates the crucial importance of marriage in the society, but also for women.

England has always had a rich history of interesting cultural traditions but arguably none as prevalent as marriage. Marriage, the union of two people with emotional ideals and expectations, are brought on by many different factors that include: for love, for money, for climbing social status, escapism, survival, etc. In Jane Austen’s novels, she focuses on the importance of marriage in her world because she wanted to emphasize how marriage is the most important life event of a woman as this would determine her place in society. Persuasion shows readers good and bad examples of marriage: the amiable Crofts and other couples such as Sir Walter & Lady Elliot and the Smiths. Jane Austen uses the Crofts to support the importance of marriage