fFleta has 11 post(s)

The underlying issue that Davis is bringing to light in this piece is the gap that is evident between women, depending on class and race. Although the Seneca Falls convention was an effort to promote equal rights for women, there was still a divide, as the focus fell primarily on middle-class women, leaving working class and African-American women out of the spotlight. The working-class women who spent their days in the mills working in horrible conditions with little pay and no regard for health concerns slowly began to rise up and demand equality. As for African-American women, their experiences in the slave trade became an even more powerful driving force in the women’s rights movement. With that being said, I believe that Davis is trying to prove just how attainable equality for women can be if women would work together to bridge this gap by encouraging others and speaking up. However, it did not come that easy, as many women who supported the abolitionist campaign did not incorporate anti-slavery concerns into their fight for equality. Also, there were women that did not agree with the abolitionist campaign at all, which posed an even greater issue as it weakened their fight altogether. Davis includes these concerns because it is important to show that the convention failed to hold African-American women and working-class women up to the same stature as middle-class women. It did not speak for the women who needed more recognition in society, which ultimately took away from its ability to truly create change. It played favorites by focusing on the more ‘desirable’ or ‘capable’ group of women instead.

Luckily, the empowering presence and voice of Sojourner Truth made an impact when she chose to speak up at the Akron convention. She brought to light the issues with racist and sexist viewpoints that hindered the promotion of the women’s movement. Her experiences made her credible and showed her true strength and wisdom. She did not hold back when discussing her days as a slave and the struggle that she went through. Her influence on the women’s movement is one that encourages individuals to see that even a black woman deserves to be seen, respected, and given the same rights as a white woman. Although people were moved and inspired by her fire, there were still many who spread hate and negativity towards her speeches. Yet even then, they did not sway her. Davis included Sojourner into this piece so that one can understand the importance of coming together as one, despite your background, in order to promote change and make a difference. In order for women to achieve the equality they strive for, it is necessary that they join together. A movement cannot be divided, otherwise it will not meet its mark.