å Monday, September 4th, 2017

Angela Davis asserts that the women’s rights movement stemmed from slavery in the 1800s. She explains that both white women and black women have dealt with similar issues of discrimination and have tried numerous attempts in fighting for each other. Davis describes black women and white women as “sisters”. Any attack on a female black woman would be considered an attack on all of the female gender. For instance, during the 1840 World Anti – Slavery Convention, women did not have a chance in voting on several issues discussed during the convention. This was an important issue because it was an example of oppression from the men in this convention as well on slave fields and homes. This shows us that although black women and white women are from two different races, they have come together to ward off male superiority and oppression, and to support in each other in their struggles. The result of the convention was that the women were defeated. Additionally, the remarks of those with disabilities were also unheard. For example, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who was handicapped, was not able to voice her opinion on almost a decade of abolitionism as a result of years in triumph in fighting for women’s rights. This shows those with disabilities were seen as lower in class than able women, because they were not even allowed to be considered in thought. Moreover, Stanton also grew up to wealthy and conservative parents, so she able to have certain privileges in school that most girls did not have. Some of these privileges included learning mathematics and law.  Her involvement with the law as a result of her parents being conservative led her to fight for the equal rights of all women. Although women during the suffrage movement came from different classes and races, they were able to come to together and speak on behalf of oppression and discrimination.

Those in control of political voice, education and, economy recognized the threat and actively resisted the endeavor and struggle of legitimizing the opposing claims and, in the right mind of any logical person, the sound arguments that demonstrated the end of such absolute control.

Davis’ brief overview highlights major events in history, some more catalytic than others, but all contributing to the rise of equal rights. I believe the collection of these events serve to illustrate the relationship between gender, race, and class in respect to the state of the economy and, equally important, state of political and educational accessibility.

Male supremacy was supported by a system rooted in economic conditions, specifically industrialization and slavery. This institutionalized the behavior resulted in casting women as inferior to men. Inferiority is inflicted onto both genders and all races in all classes. Perhaps the only exception to this that Davis does not mention would be poor white men, but even so they would have an advantage in the bout of political and economic struggle. So powerful was the institutionalization of male supremacy that women on their own private lives would be presented by the men in their families who claimed the credit of anything productive the women would do (Davis, 1981,61).

The restricted access to political voice and education among white women and people of color was made apparent, when Sojourner Truth stepped into the arena (Davis, 1981,66). Perhaps it was the confidence in her speech and sound arguments against the logic that men had built their formalized dominance over women on. She showed that even with resistance to a basic education as well as a tremendous disadvantage in political combat, people of both genders and all races in any class could rise up against institutionalized male supremacy.

The correlation of the exploitation of white women in the birth of industrialization and slavery were not recognized as systematic parallels immediately (Davis: 1981,71).  The domination of one over the other crosses all races, classes, and genders due to economy.

Davis is trying to take the reader step by step through the history of women during the 19th century while expanding her arguments on race, class and gender. Around the world there are millions of females with different backgrounds but is of great importance for Davis to begin with the role of black women during slavery. Her purpose is to show how their treatment was mostly influenced by profit. Back then a society focus on negotiations between owners to sell and manipulate their slaves in order to gain power a group of people as they also gained profit. However, there started to be a turning point when women realized their value and manifested opposition to obtain freedom. In chapter three, Davis describes and explains the “embryonic” actions of women who were dedicated to fight for independence from men and for their roles in a society with equality. In many different places there were campaigns such as the Anti-slavery Convention and the Seneca Falls Declaration in which women were able to be at least represented by other men or they by themselves had the chance to fight inequality. During the uprising of these events, one historical figure that grabbed my attention was Frederick Douglass. He was  a man who defended the rights of women. Davis mentions how his convincement of the right to vote came from a women. What Davis is trying to tell us by mentioning him is to portray determination, unity and hope for a change in the perspective others had about women having the right to vote. She explains how he was the only one that accepted to fight and had the will to persevere even when he was rejected by the press and other people. He represented a form of freedom to express their values in a family, in a job and in a society. Women wanted to be equally treated and not be a minority. One of the characteristic he had was loyalty even when there was a lot of opposition between males and females. Davis demonstrates that there is possibility to come to an agreement and be open minded to discuss the issues one is experiencing. Overall, each reference she uses clarify and proved the possibility to reach freedom and equality.

In Chapter 3 of Angela Davis’ Women,Race & Class, the Seneca Falls conference I found there to two different sides of the spectrum that were to be addressed. On one hand, at this convention there were working class white women expressing their unfavorable working conditions that were followed by  even more unfavorable wages for their hours of hard work and sweat. These women were part of  the white working middle class. So yes although these arguments are crucial to discuss for Women’s rights they also do not address the other side of the spectrum. As we saw in Chapter 2 of Davis’s work, We cannot fully address or move forward in any Women’s Rights movements if we do not abolish slavery as well. Although both black  men and women were subject to slavery  in terms of Women’s rights this was a battle to fight together  because even to address the abolishment of slavery it was first noted that the opinion of these women were scrutinized for the fact alone of having their sex be female.

I feel that by Davis addressing this issue in chapter 3 at the Seneca Falls conference on  how there was a lack of voice for the black women who were subjected to the inhumane treatments of slavery shines light on the fact of this being a race and class issue. White middle class women who would take part in the anti-slavery movement, were not the majority at the Seneca Falls conference where it would have truly counted to be a voice for all matters concerning Women’s rights. On the other hand black women slaves were the minority. Although women as a whole are an oppressed sex, being a black enslaved women is part of  a minority is experiencing triple of what her white counterpart is. This reminded me of Michael Kimmel’s ” The Gendered Society” where he partially attacks this same issue. In the story there are two women, one white and black. The argument is what one sees when they look in the mirror. The white women responds that she simply sees a woman while the other response is that she sees a black woman. I found it to be an extremely interesting conversation because I think it is crucial to understand the lenses with which one sees their self and why they see it that way.

In chapter 3 of, “Women, Race & Class”, Angela Y. Davis uses prominent historical figures and events to explain the relationship between gender, race and class. This relationship is best represented during the Akron Convention when African-American women named Sojourner Truth distinguished herself in the midst. The relationship amongst people around the nineteenth century was based on class then divided itself into gender and race. The white man was considered the superior figure, being able to vote and hold land. The white woman was the housewife in some cases tending to the children, being unable to be self-sustainable and education was barred for most women. African Americans on the other hand were slaves, sort of like domesticated animals at the time due to the insensitivity of their jobs and the harsh treatment they received. Black woman were treated no differently, raising kid, tending to land, equal punishments. One group that was not mentioned during the Seneca conventions was the African American woman. Sojourner Truth connected the relationship between race, gender and class by representing the last group of women who faced both racism and sexism which were two controversial topics at the time, during the abolition movement and women right movement. Truth goes on to explain in her famous “aint I woman?” speech she gives counterclaim to argument that women were too fragile to help themselves, what purpose do they need to vote. Stating she hasn’t not experienced the courteous side to a man seeing that she is a woman. That she too has done the same load of work as other African American men in the field and take the same punishment as they do while bearing thirteen children, all to watch them be sold as slaves. Sojourner  Truth was mentioned by Davis to explain the connection between race, class and gender. African –American women needed their equal rights just as much as white woman and white woman needed their equal rights just as African American men needed their human rights. All these issues at the time from sexism and racism all depended on the superior figure at the time, White men.

In chapter three of Angela Davis’ “Women, Race, and Class” gives us a deeper understanding on the history of the women’s movement. It expands on the dominance of white males in society. Davis displays how gender played such prominent roles in how was given rights in society. The main historical event that she mentions was the Seneca Falls Convention which was created to discuss the rights of women. One name that Davis mention multiple times was Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who used her previous experiences at other conventions such as the London convention to organize a women’s rights convention. She used her position and knowledge and made herself a leader for the women who wanted to fight for their rights. It was a struggle to get people to string along to the idea that white women could have rights, let alone African American women. The convention showed that race was still a prevalent problem in determining who had rights.

Ironically, a women’s rights convention was held, and no women were in attendance. The white males had no interest in listening to any of the nonsense about women’s rights. The purpose of this convention was to show how marriage and motherhood set up males to be the dominant ones in society. Females had to rely on males to provide for the family and how it allowed males to do basically anything they wanted to women. This convention basically displayed how little standing women had in society and how it impacted lives physically, mentally, and socially. Davis wants to display that being a woman, whether white or black, or whatever class they belonged too, had a harsh time living in the 1800’s due to the inequalities they faced in society.

In the third chapter of Angela Davis’ Women, Race & Class, much is revealed about the origins and beginning stages of the women’s rights movement. As Davis revisits the history of the women’s rights movement, she discusses the Seneca Falls Convention. What instantly becomes ironic is that although the convention was organized with the intent to give women a platform to express their need for liberation, there was an astonishing lack of female presence. Instead, men who had little concern for the issues that brought about the convention were largely in attendance, proving that male superiority still reigned over the female population.

At the Seneca Falls Convention it became evident that a large disconnect existed between women of different races. There was an enormous lack of inclusion of the heavily oppressed Black female community. Black women were completely disregarded in the conversations that took place regarding the liberation of women, despite the fact that they faced the same and often greater hardships than their white female counterparts. Black women faced oppression not only due to their womanhood, but were also subject to racism. It was only after Angelina Grimke criticized the insufficient inclusion of Black women that there became greater advocation for the Black female population.

Female workers were mostly limited to industrial fields, where they experienced gruesome work hours and conditions. The poorer a woman was, the more grueling her work would be. Those that were able to work within their homes usually were not in control of the types of work they performed or the flow of their wages. There were even times at which women were not paid for their work at all. This was due to the belief that women were expected to cater to the needs of their husbands, by ensuring that they tended to home and to their children.

Overall, Davis shows that race, sex, and class are all elements used to make women appear more inferior both to one another and in the eyes of a man.

In Chapter 3 of “Woman, Race, & Class”, Angela Davis touches upon Class and Race in the Early Women’s Rights Campaign. At one point, she clearly expresses how the North (though known to be the anti-slavery side of the civil war) was not guilt free, for it too was immersed with racism and danger for the black population. She describes the unrecognized hateful attitude of the north, by noting the hardships anti-slavery and women’s rights leaders Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott and Susan B. Anthony had during their travels spreading words of emancipation in upstate New York. At their meetings and speeches, they were met with riots and groups of men that expressed a violent pro-slavery stance. Davis goes on to tell how once the northern draft was implemented, these same rioters became inflamed. They brought on violence, opposition and even murder to free black men and women with at least 1,000 people killed and wounded. (pg 72) I find this information really interesting and surprising. While learning of the civil war and anit-slavery movement in high school, it was always noted that the northerners were the “good guys” and held a safe haven for black men and women. I now see how the north may have not been the sparkling safe land it was always noted to be; and that there is far more to this storyline that has yet to be exposed and taught to many young students. I believe that here Angela Davis is trying to justly inform the public of the real dark history of issues regarding race, gender, and class in America; that what many of us have grown up knowing about the anti- slavery movement does not necessarily depict the whole truth. I think she wants to give justice to those that have struggled through the oppression, who have lost their lives through the violence, and who have fought for their voices to be heard by correcting historical thought.

While I was reading this chapter, one thought was concerning me. Davis said that women were mostly mother’s and they had to cook food, clean house and raise children. The thought I’ve been having is that times have changed but some people haven’t. I’ll try to explain it as clear as possible. For instance, if we compare modern times to the time when women of any race wanted their rights to count. Nowadays women are independent and strong but in some places of the world, women live with the same old patriarchal way of live. The problem of gender occurs not only in US but in other countries also.

Girl is taught to be a keeper of a house and a good mother since childhood and it almost never changes. I’ll give a personal example and I’ll describe my mother. She was told that women have to do everything in home. In my culture men has a big role but my mother didn’t want to be a “just another woman” she wanted to become someone. She made everything to ensure that she would accomplished her own goals.  She went against all the rules and guidelines she was once told. So she got an excellent education in three different universities and she got a well paid job. In addition, she is a great mother because she always cared for her family. I’m proud of her because she accomplished what she wanted and she escaped the way of life she was told to follow. She succeeded in professional way and in her personal. Of course there are other issues such as a glass ceiling but it’s a topic for another day.

In my opinion women who wanted to be equal to men in the nineteen’s century accomplished a lot because with out them we probably wouldn’t have our way of life. Of course there are still inequalities and men and women of any race have still a long way to go to a full understanding of this question. However, for now, thanks to strong and independent people like Elizabeth Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Sojourner Truth and many other men and women, who came along despite their gender and race differences. Although in the beginning black women’s right were not mention on conventions of that time and it definitely draw attention to it. Luckily they united for a greater goal and made powerful speeches that we study now. “And ain’t I a woman” is probably one of the highlights of the movement. Sojourner speech not only was about black women’s right but also about all women and how they can achieve the same amount of work done as men do. Black liberation movement and Women’s liberation movement realized that it’s in their best interest to unite and make changes. Thanks to them we now have some idea how an equal world can look like in a future and that we still have a long way to go.