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Women's Rights |
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LETTERS ON THE EQUALITY OF THE SEXES, AND THE CONDITION OF WOMAN
Sarah M. Grimké-1838 Sarah Grimké was born in South Carolina to a prominent planter family, then later moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she became a Quaker and joined her younger sister Angelina Grimké in the abolition movement. There they did extensive public speaking in opposition to slavery and in favor of women's rights. Sarah began as an advocate for the abolition of slavery but soon began defending women’s rights. She took offense to Catherine Beecher's opinion of the natural order of the subordinate role of women and responded to these abominations in the form of letters, initially published in a newspaper. In these Letters on the Equality of the Sexes, and the Condition of Woman of 1838, she directly attacked two of Catherine Beecher’s arguments, the first being that God’s degree was that women were to remain subordinate to men. Grimké argued that God made the sexes equal, however men “created women’s inferior condition by denying them opportunity and forcing them to do their bidding.” Sarah also set out to destroy the principle of “separate spheres” of influence for men and women. She insisted that both sexes had the same rights and duties. Women should be able to participate fully in education, religion, work and politics which included the abolition movement. Sarah was quite passionate in her conviction on the equality of women. However, in 1838 her words were too radical, and won her argument amongst a very small minority. Exerpt from Letter 1: "My Dear Friend, — In attempting to comply with thy request to give my views on the Province of Woman, I feel that I am venturing on nearly untrodden ground, and that I shall advance arguments in opposition to a corrupt public opinion, and to the perverted interpretation of Holy Writ, which has been so universally obtained. But I am in search of truth; and no obstacle shall prevent my prosecuting that search, because I believe the welfare of the world will be materially advanced by every new discovery we make of the designs of Jehovah in the creation of woman. It is impossible that we can answer the purpose of our being, unless we understand that purpose. It is impossible that we should fulfill our duties,unless we comprehend them; or live up to our privileges, unless we know what they are." |
Sarah M. Grimké
Copy from The Letters on the Equality of the Sexes, and the Condition of Woman.
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