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Assignment 01

In Chapter 3 of Angela Davis’s book, Davis sheds light on the beginnings of women’s rights and how gender played a huge role on how a person was treated. Women have always been viewed as inferior compared to men and certain events in history are shown to highlight that idea. Several figures in women’s rights movement arranged the first women’s right convention in New York to discuss the civil, social, and religious rights women deserved and should be entitled to. This convention gained much attention, however despite how much attention the convention had garnered the majority of the people present were men, which really demonstrated the difference in men and women; men had the last word to what rights women deserved. Its ironic that a convention about women’s rights is hosted and little to none of those who attended are females. Although this convention was a huge flop in my opinion, it led the way to numerous other events pertaining to women’s rights.

Females were always considered to be weak, dependent, and less capable than men. In the early days females never attended school, only the boys did. Females always stayed at home learning household tasks and being told that one day she’ll be like a maid taking care of the family.  In the older days there were very few women that went through the school system, Elizabeth Stanton with the help of her parents support was able to accomplish many things that were considered not appropriate for women. Stanton was able to complete equestrian tasks, study Greek, as well as going on to studying law with her father. Coming from a wealthy family, she as able to accomplish all this much easier than those coming from middle to low income families. She really had a unique childhood and a really bright future, however she ultimately ended up like every other women in her time, a basic housewife confined to her home and husband. Davis showed this example to emphasize the lack of rights/opportunities, Stanton had a great upbringing but that didn’t lead to anywhere.

Even though in today’s day and age, there is a still a huge gap between men and women; a lot has changed for the better but there is still a lot left to be done. Women are able to do much more, going to school, getting a job, making her own decisions, etc. Even though are these are commonplace now a days, I feel like the society’s idea what a women should be has really changed a lot. In the U.S as well as other countries, Disney movies play a good chunk in a child’s childhood. Many of the movies portray women as weak and dependent needing a Prince Charming to come in and save them.