Judith Sargent Murray's Essay 'On The Equality Of The Sexes'

On the Equality of the Sexes
In early nineteen centuries, Women helped shape the course of the American Revolution in numerous ways. However, national and state constitutions included little mention of women. Under the constitution, women did not have right to vote and were not allowed hold office. Judith Sargent Murray, a feminist writer, was one of the most prominent women of the Revolutionary era. She strived for the right and recognition of women from the society of her period. In the feminist essay, “On the Equality of Sexes,” Murray posed the argument of spiritual and intellectual equality between men and women.
“On the Equality of the Sexes” began with arguing against the idea that woman were not mentally equal to men in all areas.

Murray compared woman’s and men’s ability in imagination, reason, memory, and judgment. “Province of imagination hath long since been surrendered to us” she noted, but women were extremely limited in how they excise their imaginations. If women were allowed to imagine freely, they were able to write good books and invent wonderful things. However, women had channeled this creativity into fashion, slander, and gossip, it caused that women were lacking of intelligent and ability. Murray also stated that traditional female activities, such as sewing and cooking, would not bring out women’s intellects and creativity to their potential since these activities did not require much thought and attention. In addition, learning and expression were not allowed women to do. Murray believed that women and men had been given the ability and intellectuality equally by nature, but after-birth’s education made people difference essentially influence on their abilities.
The nineteen century American women were confines to stereotypical gender roles and actions. Women were expected to clean, cook, and to take care of domestic work, while husbands were creating the wealth out in the public sphere. In addition, women did not have equal right with men because of constraints, customs and constitution. Married women could not sign independent contracts or sue in their own names without their husbands until the Civil War. Women were not allowed to vote under the constitution. In addition, there were very few women had same opportunities for education.
However, during the same decades of Second Great Awakening, the role of women in America changed. The religious and moral authority such an experience redefined what it meant to be a woman. The Market Revolution was a significant role to change gender role. There were many factories appeared at that period. As textiles were increasingly manufactured in mills, middle class women could spend less time weaving and spinning cloth so that they had chance to accept education on leisure time.
In colonial America, men were considered superior to women in all ways. Men controlled wealth and political power, but women were only expected to take care of domestic duties. However, in nineteenth century, many Americans experienced Second Great Awakening and Market Revolution realized how significant role were women could play in the society. Women did not receive same education at that time, but Men and women were given equally by nature. If women could have equal education without limitation, they would give great contribution in the society.