Maminski 1

Mia Maminski

Constance

Rhetoric 101

October 8, 2017

The Endless Fight

"He has endeavored, in every way that he could, to destroy her confidence in her own

powers, to lessen her self-respect, and to make her willing to lead a dependent and abject life"

(Stanton 373). In the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions by Elizabeth Cady Stanton,

she shows the degradation women had to go through and still go through today, throughout the

years women have been fighting for equal right against men. She shows we are looked at as if we

are worth less than a man, and our only reason to be alive is to please a man, rely on a man, and

do whatever he bids with her word choices and examples. Even to this day we are not looked at

as equal in the eyes of society and the government.

Women were treated as second class citizen than men and that men had controlled the

women at the time and still do in some circumstances today men still control women today in

bad relationships and in some societies and cultures still see women as the care taker so they are

forced to stay home to cook, clean, and take care of the children. Women could do very little

back then because both the government and men in general viewed them as property. Stanton

said "But when the long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object

evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their duty to throw off such

government, and to provide new guards for their future security. Such has been patient

sufferance of the women under this government, and such is now the necessity which constrains

them to demand the equal station to which they are entitled" (372). She shows that in the eyes of
 Maminski 2

the law we are all created and treated equally but in reality, it is not like that. Women could not

vote, were denied education, and denied working opportunities. Not only that but the society

would believe the only purpose in life is for men. Women are here to take care of them, please

them, and be nothing more than just a servant. Stanton uses pathos to show how little power

women have, the emotion connection through the abuses of government and men, how women

were so powerless then. Not only that but, men seem to think they can constantly just take from

women without there being any consequences.

It is always take, take, take, but never give. Men are constantly taking things from

women whether its rights, property, or voice. Stanton states, "she has no voice" (372). This

shows how women had difficulty fighting back, they had no voice, and no one would listen.

Women were treated as nothing that whatever comes out of their mouth isnt worth hearing,

which shows other people think she isnt worth anything. The government "withheld her from

her rights", "deprived her of this first right of a citizen, and "Never permitted her to

exercise her right to elective franchise"(Stanton 372-373). Stanton shows by stating these that

even their amendment rights as a citizen of the United States were looked as if they didnt apply

to woman because they were looked at as not enough of a person. Over time this has changed

through strong women like Rosa Parks, Susan B. Anthony, and many more to this day are still

fighting. In the eyes of the law no matter single or married women are looked at as a second-

class citizen.

When married it is even worse for women because in the eyes of the law they are

property, nothing more than thought as just a thing. Stanton says, "He has made her, if married,

in the eye of the law, civilly dead." (373) and "He has taken from her, all right in property, even

the wages she earns." (373), they see her as "dead in the eyes of the law" (373) as if women dont
 Maminski 3

exist, only their husbands do. Everything she owns or earns is considered his in the eyes of the

law. She is considered his, and he can do whatever he wants to her. She shows "In covenant of

marriage, she is compelled to promise obedience to her husband...", "her master- the law is

giving him power to deprive her", and "establishment of an absolute tyranny over her"

(373). Every woman in a relationship is completely powerless Stanton says "if single, and the

owner of property, he has taxed her to support a government which recognizes her only when her

property can be made profitable to it." and "denied her facilities for obtaining a thorough

education, all colleges being closed against her" (373). The government only looks at women as

useful when profitable, but when not then they close us off from all opportunities in life.

Everyday women are fighting and now we have more and more protest and movements to

support women.

Even to this day it still applies all over. Women are still to this day being looked at as

being worth less than a man in the eyes of government. Woman today make seventy-seven cents

to every mans dollar for each paycheck. We are still looked at as less and that our reason on this

earth is to help or please a man. In the job world everyone ideally thinks as woman for lower

jobs as assistants, maids, or nurses. And not as the higher jobs like the boss, doctors, or scientist.

We are looked at as less, that we are unable to be a head of a company or anything at the top.

Now in pop culture we see women fighting against this society to show we are more than just as

assistant, Women like Opera, Elizabeth Garret Anderson, Beyonc, and many more show how

you can go above and beyond and achieve what we want to achieve.

In the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions by Elizabeth Cady Stanton she

shows the degradation women had to go through and still go through today, throughout the years

women have been fighting for equal right against men. Today we still are fighting in the
 Maminski 4

Feminist movement and in many other movements and protest for equal rights in the eyes of the

law and other citizens because everyone deserves the same chances and treatments no matter

what race, gender, and sexuality.

Works Cited

Stanton, Elizabeth Cady. Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions. Belmont Abbey Reader,

Edited by Angela Miss and Carson Daly. Bedford/St. Martins, 2015, 372-373.