Elizabeth Cady Stanton

The document, “Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions,” by Elizabeth Cady Stanton was undoubtedly the effectual beginning of the feminist, suffrage movement. In this document, Stanton demands rights for women, that I could not imagine living without today. The right to vote, the right to an education, and the right to make decisions without the influence of a man, are rights that most women, including myself, take for granted today. In this declaration, Elizabeth Cady Stanton lists many of the specific powers that men had over women during that time period. Men did not allow women to vote. Once married, most women were under the complete control of their husbands. Their husbands also demanded dowries, and were allowed to spend it anyway they pleased. Women had no voice in the formation of laws, but were still forced to follow these laws. Elizabeth Cady Stanton listed many of the oppressions that women faced, because of controlling, power-hungry men. There were so many unjust laws placed on women during that time, it is difficult to imagine any woman being able to live happily in that type of society. In the pretext reading of this document, the author says that the “Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions,” was almost a parody of Thomas Jefferson’s “Declaration of Independence.” After reading Stanton’s declaration, the parallels between the two texts were very clear. Looking back on the Declaration of Independence, I can understand this presence of hypocrisy and irony in the document. Preaching equality to men and women, but not including women, was clearly unjust. The fight for women’s rights, especially the fight for suffrage, was far too difficult and took far too long. The hypocrisy of men during the 1800s, in a “free” country, was unbelievable.