Serena Chavez

Essay
July 2016
Declaration of Sentiments

In the mid-1800s, womens rights were almost non-existing. Voting was

nonexistent, education was minimal, and there were no places hiring women for work.
Women were seen as just housewives, knowing nothing else but to clean, and take care
of the household and children. Education was very little for women. Only the rich and
some selected few were educated in schools. Slavery was not uncommon in this era.
Women in slavery were taught to have as many children as possible for more laborers
for the slave owners. Many women were afraid to voice their opinion about equality.
They were afraid to be rejected or called absurd. During this era there were only a few
women who spoke up, and among those few were Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia C.
Mott, and Martha C. Wright.
Elizabeth was a well educated woman from New York. She attended anti-slavery
conventions around the world and had a big heart for womens rights. In London she
met a new friend, Lucretia Mott. She was also a womens activist. In 1848, her and Mott
organized the first womens rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York on July 19th
and 20th. At that meeting, they introduced the Declaration of Sentiments. This paper,
that was signed by 68 women and 32 men, refers back to other important documents
like the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights stating that all persons
should be equal. Also, the document emphasizes on the lack of womens rights in

property rights in marriage, inequality in divorce, and inequality in education and

employment opportunities. Women wanted the same rights men had. Divorce was a lot
different than it is today. Women had no say in a divorce decision, the man would
choose. Women were not allowed to own a house or have any say in the home. The
money they earned would go directly to the men. Education was almost non-existent. In
my opinion, I dont think the government wanted to pay for womens education if they
are not going to carry a job. There were a lot of things people thought men were better
at back then.
One of the men who signed this document was Frederick Douglass. Frederick
was an author and a human rights leader. He went on to be the first African American to
hold a high U.S. government rank.
This document applies to all that want to listen, male or female. These women
wanted their voices to be heard. The more people behind them, the more followers they
will get, and the more chance they have of being heard, and to see a difference. This
document shaped America and the way women are today. This was the first big step
towards equal opportunities for women in the U.S.. If these women didnt stand up and
voice their opinion that day, who knows if anyone ever would have.