Question

What civil rights violations against women does the Declaration of Sentiments cite?

Answer 1

• What civil rights violations against women does the Declaration of Sentiments cite?
• The Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions was drafted by Elizabeth Cady Stanton for the women's rights convention at Seneca Falls, New York in 1848. Based on the American Declaration of Independence, the Sentiments demanded equality with men before the law, in education and employment. The first pronouncement demanding that women be given the right to vote.
• The Declaration of Sentiments begins by asserting the equality of all men and women and reiteratesthat both genders are endowed with unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It argues that women are oppressed by the government and the patriarchal society of which they are a part.
• The text then lists 16 facts illustrating the extent of this oppression, including the lack of women’s suffrage, participation, and representation in the government; women’s lack of property rights in marriage; inequality in divorce law; and inequality in education and employment opportunities. The document insists that women be viewed as full citizens of the United States and be granted all the same rights and privileges that were granted to men.
• Some points that were summarized in the Declaration include:-
• Men's "history of repeated injuries and usurpations" in order to "an absolute tyranny over" women is asserted, and the intention to lay out the evidence is also included.
• Men have not permitted women to vote.
• Women are subject to laws they have no voice in making.
• Women are denied rights given to "the most ignorant and degraded men."
• Beyond denying women a voice in legislation, men have oppressed women further.
• A woman, when married, has no legal existence, "in the eye of the law, civilly dead."
• A man may take from a woman any property or wages.
• A woman can be compelled by a husband to obey, and thus made to commit crimes.
• Marriage laws deprive women of guardianship of children upon divorce.
• A single woman is taxed if she owns property.
• The Church alleges "Apostolic authority for her exclusion from the ministry" and also "with some exceptions, from any public participation in the affairs of the Church."
• The whole document and event was met at the time with widespread disgust and mocking in the press, for even calling for women's equality and rights. The mention of women voting and the criticism of the Church were especially targets of derision.The Declaration has been criticized for its lack of mention of those who were enslaved (male and female) and for omitting mention of Native women (and men).