Women's Role In The Abolitionist Movement

Throughout history, women have made it their mission to end the suffering of those around them. Many women shared the belief that slavery was cruel, unjust and just plain evil. From the very beginnings of the slave trade in the United States, women have witnessed the horrifying effects of the slavery. On Southern plantations slaves were cruelly beaten and tortured by the master, often for little or no reason, while the master’s wife looked on helplessly. Having witnessed this abuse first hand, many women chose to fight for the end of slavery and humane treatment of people.
As a general rule, women were not welcome participants in the public or political arena. Determined, they sought to help the abolitionist movement through a variety

of other avenues. They privately encouraged people to join their cause through visiting them in their own homes. Women wrote poems, pamphlets, stories and books telling of the absolute misery and inhumane treatment of slave life. Women found men that supported their cause to help get their messages out in places that they were not welcome. In addition to their many writings, women assisted the movement by refusing to buy goods and supplies that were a direct product of slavery, such as sugar. They also chose to boycott businesses that used or sold these products. They also supported the abolitionist movement through their fundraising efforts.
Ultimately, women involved in the abolitionist movement grew weary of being denied the opportunity to speak in public or participate in the political process.

Many women found that while they were fighting for abolition, that their own freedoms and lack of rights were very similar to those of the black slaves. Through their campaigning, writings and meetings, many women began to feel that their place was not just in the home as a wife and mother. Although the treatment of slaves was very different than the treatment of women, many found that the ideas that both groups were subjected to were very similar. Just like slaves, it had long been accepted by many that women were the property of the husband. Once married, a woman had very few rights of her own. Most decisions, even regarding her own person, were often left to the will of the husband. Women were not permitted to participate in political meetings. Women were not allowed to vote. Women were discouraged or blatantly restricted from doing most activities outside of the home. It was through their participation in the abolitionist movement that women discovered that many of their male counterparts were opposed to women being active in politics or public speaking.

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With their newly developed skills, many women that had championed the abolitionist movement began to question their own rights as human beings. If the black slaves were entitled to more freedoms, then surely, as women, they were entitled to the same. Many women found that through their progress in the abolitionist movement, that their own personal freedoms were worth fighting for as well.
Although there is far less recognition for women regarding the Women’s Rights Movement, there are several key women that helped to shape the future of women’s rights.

Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were co-founders of the National Women’s Loyal League and helped to bring the suffering of women into the spotlight. Susan B. Anthony felt that women were entitled to earn, and keep, their own money. She felt that women should be permitted to own property. Elizabeth Cady Stanton advocated for greater sexual freedoms for women. She also felt that divorce laws should be less restrictive. In addition, Cady Stanton encouraged women and girls to continue with their educations, as to be better equipped to provide for themselves in the future, if such a need were to arise. Maria Mitchell helped to found the Association for the Advancement of Women. Mitchell believed that women were capable of doing so much more in life by receiving a proper

education.
Sarah and Angelina Grimké, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Lucretia Mott and many thousands of other unnamed women all did their part in bringing women’s suffrage to light. It was through their hard work, dedication and tireless efforts that women today are able to vote, own property, and just be their own person along with so many other freedoms.