5 Assignment 01

Davis begins Chapter Three by mentioning Lucretia Mott and how she was denied the right to participate in the World Anti-Slavery Convention of 1840 as anything more than a mere spectator. The anger that Mott felt was only another catalyst to inspire her to fight for women’s rights. In comparison, Davis talks about Elizabeth Cady Stanton next to display the dissimilarities between women in the United States during the women’s suffrage movement. Stanton was a housewife, having no political experience. However, Davis states that regardless of background, women from all different circumstances were able to promote change and growth within the nation.
Davis indicates that much of the reasoning for the women of the 19th century to participate in the Seneca Falls Convention was this ironic occurrence that was happening to many young women; which was ending up as a housewife even though her studies, inspirations, and attributes displayed otherwise. Davis is further reinforcing the harsh reality of the “cult of womanhood” and how accomplishments were seen as unimportant unless the woman was married and provided a family for a man. Being a mother places her in the household to take care of the family and therefore, she must be reliant on the husband for financial stability; further reducing her importance in the eyes of others.
Davis goes on to bring about the struggle of representation of certain groups within these conventions. Davis mentions Charlotte Woodward, a working woman, and questions if the resolution of the Seneca Falls Convention, asking for equality between men and woman financially, was made by the convention leaders or was it a succeeded effort by the woman working class. Similar to the World Anti-Slavery Convention of 1840, the National Female Anti-Slavery Society exhibited a lack of women, especially black women. The Grimke sisters blamed the society for not representing the black women’s community enough and for not bringing forth their needs.
A woman well-known for being a leader that fought for black rights in addition to women’s rights that Davis discusses in “Women, Race, and Class” is Sojourner Truth. She was a moving public speaker that gave hope to all women. She connected to white women, working and non-working, and spoke of similar struggles, regardless of race. With the years to come, many more women began participating in meetings and conventions. They believed that the rights of African Americans and the rights of women go hand in hand and one cannot triumph without the other.

Davis, A. Y. (1981). Women, race, & class. New York: Random House.

Davis used the Seneca Falls Convention as a platform to introduce the many experiences of women’s suffrage. The Seneca Falls convention is known as the starting point of the women’s rights movement. It was initially to point out the oppressing conditions of the middle class white women. For the new era of the industrial revolution, forced women to feel dependent to their husbands and suffer economically. The convention however, failed to mention women of other classes and races. And its outcome was the pouring reactions of many, like Charlotte Wood and Sojourner Truth to tell their perspective of the women’s rights movement. So although the first convention was not a total success in bringing forth all women of class and race, it did inspire others to practice their freedom of speech and have an opinion on the matter. It allowed other women to point out the things that the first convention missed. One of the most obvious thing the Seneca Falls convention ignored were the suffering of black women. Davis brings up Sojourner Truth in order to point out the flaws of the women’s rights movement. Sojourner Truth exposed the racism that was in the women’s rights movement. And that in order for the movement to make any progress, it must first acknowledge all women, including black women. Sojourner Truth, an ex-slave, knew oppression more than the white woman. Yes, white women were oppressed due to their sex, but they never experienced the oppression that a black woman has faced. Sojourner Truth then became a representative figure for the black women. I think Davis mentions Sojourner in order to explain the division line between the women’s rights movement and the abolitionist movement. And that for any real social change to happen, it must happen in unity. One cannot advocate for equality in gender, if they cannot simply even consider black women to be a woman. They were both fighting for the same freedom, yet once again the white women’s rights trumped the black women’s rights. Davis emphasizes this clear tension between the two movements.

Angela Davis begins Chapter 3, “Class and Race in the Women’s Rights Campaign”, with the events which inspired the Seneca Falls Convention. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, women who attempted to participate in the World Anti-slavery Convention of 1840, are dismissed by the men of the convention because of the fact they are women. Although most men participating refuse to allow them to join, several abolitionists refuse to participate as well in solidarity.

According to Davis, the Seneca Falls convention was organized by upper class white women, and therefore only reflected their struggles, which consisted of the controlling effects of marriage, as well as the exclusion from professional fields of work. Davis illustrates the large group of women that suffer the inequalities of womanhood, as well as being in the working class through her description of the mill women. Davis demonstrates how the Seneca Falls Convention excluded this large group of women, and how the convention itself was classist.

Davis uses the stories of Sojourner Truth as well as Charlotte Woodward to demonstrate that the heart of the women’s rights movement was in the hands of working class and black women, instead of the dignified white women who believed the struggles of womanhood to be mostly linked to marriage, and failed to see its relation to race or class. Charlotte Woodward, a glovemaker, attended the convention to fight for a fair wage, and to separate herself from the patriarchy that prevented her from becoming a professional.

This chapter furthers the notion that the credit for the Women’s Rights movement is almost always given to the white, upperclass women of the Seneca Falls Convention, rather than the hardworking textile workers and black women. This is a characteristic that I still witness today, through “white feminism”. Even today I can clearly see that white women take the face of feminism, despite the fact that women of color play a large role. The fact that the term “white feminism” exists shows the growing acknowledgment of the whitewashing of women of color’s struggles for equality and the lengths that they go to achieve their goals.

In her “Class and Race in the Women’s Rights Campaign,” Angela Davis provides us (readers) with different accounts of what was going on during the abolitionist and women’s rights conventions that began during the 1830s. In the beginning of the chapter, Davis emphasizes the importance of the coalition between women and men in the abolitionist movement. Such union was very significant because it empowered and benefitted both groups who fought for women’s rights and anti-slavery, and ultimately strengthened their cause. Some abolitionist believed that the women’s fight was different than theirs because women would compare marriage to slavery, which makes the liberation movement seem mediocre and lose its original intent. However, I think that this union highly portrayed the seriousness and devotion that the two groups had and their ability to stand together and undermine their oppressors.

The Seneca Falls convention was very successful, however, the absence and exclusion of mill girls and African American women was a huge downfall. Many of their stories were unheard so their struggles remained eclipsed. One important figure of the Seneca Falls convention was Charlotte Woodward who worked at home. Her major concern was the decline in social and economic status of women especially after losing their jobs at home. I think that she was one of the most important figures in the convention, because unlike many of the other women, she represented most working women who belonged to a lower class. Another problem at the Seneca Falls convention was the absence of black women, and no mention of them at all, which shows another weakness of the movement at the time. It is very difficult for me to understand how such exclusion can take place at a convention that is both for women’s rights and anti-slavery. The convention’s disregard of enslaved black women is contradicting to the entire objective of the movement. On the positive side, the convention helped raise awareness and participation of more women especially black women.

At the first national convention, the efforts of Sojourner Truth, another ambitious activist, became the highlight of the convention because she represented black women and their stance on the movement. Her speeches and defense of the movement strengthened its caused and demonstrated her strong sense of leadership.

I think that Angela Davis is trying to emphasize the power of unity. As more people from various groups and backgrounds joined the movement, the movement became much more powerful and effective. In the beginning, the women’s movement joined the abolitionists and gained more support for their cause. And as time progressed, working women and black women also joined and created great momentum to the women’s rights movement. Without this solidarity, the movement would have not been as successful.

I think Davis is trying to tell us that the conventions started off as a anti slavery convention and eventually women, usually middle class, began to work together with the abolition group, African American, to fight for their rights. This is probably because at this time in the period women’s rights didn’t really exist and with the support of Frederick Douglas this allowed the women to have a chance to fight for their rights. Also during this time the South economy was based on slavery so trying to abolish slavery as well as getting rights for women allowed the women to see something that the African American saw so working together was probably a good choice. They were also treated some what unfairly at the job like being paid lower income compared to white men, etc… This was also during the time when Industrial Revolution was taking place so most of the jobs that women did was being replaced by factories and the role for women began to change. However not all women worked together (supported the abolition it was like they were only fighting for their rights as gender, but not color) with the abolition group because during some convention like the Seneca Fall Convention not many issues were being discussed, except the electoral power – rights for women to vote, until later on when more conventions were planned out in different location and different person giving the speech or representing/leading the convention. These locations and person probably played a big role for what was being decided in the next convention like what was being said and what was being represented by that person because depending on where the person is from, their environment, they will act differently from someone else that grew up elsewhere and also the people they grew up with could determine how they act (it gives them that specific identity that each individual has just like how in that school that the African American girl attended the principal made the white girls vote to determine whether the black girl should continue attending). Eventually I think Davis was telling us that these conventions was successful and made way for changes into the future. Even though the fight for rights were different (for women it was their rights to be treated equally compared to their counterparts, for African American it was also their rights along with being free from slavery – a free person) they came together to fight together for what they thought was right and made a big change.

Angela Davis introduces the topic of “Class and Race in the Early Women’s Rights Campaign” in chapter through the words from two women activist Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who are the representative of the educated middle class women. As the title mentions, Angela Davis discusses the connections of class and race during the early women’s rights campaign. Her central argument was towards the struggles of Black Liberation and battle for women’s rights. Angela Davis was trying to convince the reader that it was not only about fighting for the abolition of slavery or the rights of women, but it was about everyone fighting for equality whether one was a man, woman, black or white. Moreover, Angela Davis talked about the Seneca Falls Convention, the first women’s rights convention where the idea of the right for women to vote was introduced. The other main concerns of the convention were marriage, and women’s exclusion from the professional workplace. Here Angela Davis is trying to highlight the negative effects of racism and classism upon women.

Furthermore, along with many white women, black women also took part in the Convention. One of those black women was Sojourner Truth, whose powerful “Ain’t I a Woman” speech played a major role in the women’s right movement. Her race, class and economic status did not prevent her from fighting for the women’s rights along with white women. Angela Davis also introduces Charlotte Woodward, who also attended Seneca Falls Convention to seek help in improving her wage. The motive for her being there was to rebel against male supremacy.  Throughout the chapter Angela Davis introduces different women to demonstrate that these are the very women that fought to make sure that women of the future will be treated fairly in the male dominated society.

Even though Angela Davis was mentioned inspiring women who participated in the Convention, many were not allowed to share their perspective. In the process some of them forgot about their fellow colored women and who they were fighting for. In addition, in the chapter Angela Davis conveys the idea that with unity one can accomplish more, rather than doing it by his/her self.

I believe that Angela Davis is trying to show us that convention at Senaca Falls wouldn’t be effective as it was if there were no woman’s working classes. Of course, there were great assistance from upper classes females like Elizabeth Cady Stanton who aided the abolition of racism and inequality of sex. She stood up to fight against society because she also experienced that every efforts she did to get knowledge from law schools and excellence in studies became nothing as she married. It was important for high classes to fight against society to achieve same right as male. However, as Angela Davis mentioned in this chapter, it wasn’t a life-related problems to the people who are women at higher classes compared to working classes. Women at working classes wanted better quality of life, and it would be obvious that they were desperate to improve their lives and wanted to be treated same as male.
Furthermore, I think Angela Davis also trying to tell us that cooperation between Black and White was important. When abolition against gender inequality and racism happened, male anti-slavery leaders also fought with abolitionist for women right. For example, Fredrick Douglass, an African-American social reformer and abolitionist, helped Elizabeth Cady Stanton introduced a resolution on woman suffrage. There was no one but Fredrick Douglass who helped her to extend the right to vote to women. Furthermore, most of the African Americans who lived in this period were slaves and discriminated by racism. Therefore, they desperately wanted the right of women and black. Sojourner Truth, an African-American abolitionist and women’s right activist, did a speech “Ain’t I a Woman?” at 1851 women’s convention in Akron, Ohio, and I think it touched many people’s heart because she had preparedness for death to achieve the right.
In conclusion, I believe that Angela tell us that outcome of this convention was successful because there were groups who had same ideas like they wanted to get educated.

I find Angela Davis in chapter three on ” Class and race in the Women’s Rights Campaign,” to be attempting to tell the reader of the many hardships of the Women’s rights campaign. While reading this chapter of her book the emotions I mostly felt were anger and disgust, but I also found myself being proud and somewhat amazed.
Most of my anger and disgust comes from, what anyone can find obvious, the hardships these women had to go through described by Davis. At the very beginning there is a common quote used to describe America as the land of the free and the home of the brave. I bring attention to this as it can easily be inferred that Davis means to draw attention to these words and how untruthful they were at the time. Simply by adding quotes to that phrase it can be seen that she wants to exemplify the opposite of those words. Land of the free white man and home of the frightened as an example.
Another thing that greatly caught my attention is when Davis talks about Charles Remond’s involvement. He refused to take his seat in the Seneca Convention due to women being excluded from it. He supported several women’s groups who even paid for his expenses to get to the convention. Davis detailing this event shows the complete disregard for women in that time but also shows how women were not the only ones taking action to get women’s rights. Remond refusing to take his seat can be interpreted as him showing true dedication rather than no longer wanting to be involved. His reasoning of the women he was supporting having the inability to be present for him to support I find only strengthens this claim.
To conclude I would like to mention one thing in Davis’s text that brought up my mood as I was nearing the end. I personally enjoyed Davis’s description of Frances Dana Gage going to speak in the convention. Davis describes her very well as a fearless woman who would not listen to the many that attempted to convince her not to speak. I find Davis to be very good at letting the reader know of the many things women had to go through during the Seneca Convention and she also excels at making the reader not only be interested but sympathize with the women involved.

Angela Davis introduces the lives of women in mid-19th century by giving out the example of convention at Seneca Falls. By that time, the society was dominated by the idea of male supremacy and although there were strikes advocating women’s rights, they were not having powerful impact on the society. Therefore, which took place in the summer of 1848, Seneca Falls convention became the starting point of women to speak out publicly for their rights. Rooted from Seneca Falls, there were several women’s conventions throughout the nation and more people fought for discrimination of sexism. In Seneca Falls convention, the main reason people spoke up was to get liberation and gain rights as white middle-class women. Oppressed by what they personally experienced, middle-class women tried to organize a political challenge to fight for equality.

However, surprisingly the resolution for woman suffrage was not yet brought up and moreover, there were no black women attending the convention at Seneca Falls. It also ignored the circumstances of white working-class women. As time went by, the idea of gaining women’s rights escalated and it led ways for blue-collar women and black women to speak up. For example, Davis introduces Charlotte Woodward as a critical figure for white working-class woman. Back in early 19th century, most workers in textile industries were women and Charlotte Woodward was one of them. She suffered in very poor working conditions and her wages were controlled by men in the family. Along with other women workers, she was having double oppression as woman and as an industrial worker. Another example that Davis illustrated was Sojourner Truth, who was an ex-slave, and later became as a symbol of black women. She was also suffering from double oppression, in both racist and sexist discrimination. Her speech influenced and resonated people as she strongly fought for male supremacy. By illustrating influential figures as Woodward and Truth, Davis tried to show that women were victims of exploitation in many fields. Also, by the endeavors of such people, the society could gain consciousness of political, racial, social issues of women and slowly improved the situation for women to acquire their equality.

I believe that Davis is trying to tell us the changed of women’ social status during the Seneca Falls Convention. From the absent of women in the convention, bring up the issue of inequality for women. This reference was not just talking about the right for women to vote, also arguing for change the traditional stereotype of women: stay at home and being a housewife. As Charlotte Woodward states in the reference: Women were consider lived as dependent for their husband after they married. The first part of this reference was focus on the middle-class white women, but in the rest of part also talk about working women and black women, which are more difficult to fight for their rights than middle-class white women.

Davis also gave the life experiences of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, and Frederick Douglass tell us how education and political effect on the result of women’s right. Such as the major of Stanton of a law student taught her to be able to organized the political challenge of oppression, and have possibility to fight for equal. The publish of Douglass after the convention also help to introducing the issue of women’s right to the black liberation movement, and to the future.

Another outcome of the women’s right were the equality between black women and white women. The black women have more disadvantages in struggle for the right rather than white women. They face the problem of racism. Sojourner Truth gave a speech in the first National Convention,she was the only one to argue with the male supremacist, gave the strong speech ‘Ain’t I a Woman?’, defeat to the men’s weaker sex argument. Her speech also inspire other to struggle the right such as Frances Dana Gage.

In conclude, this convention can be mark as a important point in the way to the equality of women’s right.