22. The American drive for women’s rights began during the Revolutionary Era
In 1790, during the Administration of George Washington, an essay appeared in two parts in successive issues of Massachusetts Magazine. Provocatively (for the day) titled, On the Equality of the Sexes, it provided a seminal argument for women’s rights, particularly in the area of education. The essay was the work of Judith Sargent Murray, a writer and poet who had previously published works supportive of the Patriot movement in the British North American colonies. Her works appeared under a variety of pseudonyms; women publishing political tracts and philosophy under feminine names faced low sales and difficulties finding a publisher as result.
Judith wrote On the Equality of the Sexes in 1770, two decades before it appeared. Having educated herself for the most part, through access to her wealthy father’s library, Judith’s views were revolutionary for her day on many subjects. She expressed her views in poetry, plays, and essays, collecting several in three volumes published in 1798, The Gleaner. Among her appreciative readers were John Adams, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson. Her arguments for equal educational opportunities for women began an argument which affected American society and government for decades. Her arguments for equal employment opportunities affect them still.
Where do we find this stuff? Here are our sources:
“Martha Washington”. Article, George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Online
“Camp Followers”. Taylor Mellaci, National Library for the Study of George Washington. Online
“Lucy Knox (1756-1824). Caitlin Berg, George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Online
“Mercy Otis Warren (1728-1814). Debra Michals, National Women’s History Museum. 2015. Online
“Mary Norris Dickinson”. Article, History of American Women. Online
“Dolley Madison”. Article, White House Historical Association. Online
“Mary Ball Washington”. Taylor Soja, George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Online
“George Washington, Spymaster”. Thomas Fleming, American Heritage Magazine. February/March, 2000
“Flag: An American Biography”. Marc Leepson, 2005
“Molly Pitcher”. Article, American Battlefield Trust. Online
“Sarah Livingston Jay (1756-1802). Callan Devery, George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Online
“Coverture”. Article. Women & The American Story. New York Historical Society. Online
“Sarah Bradlee Fulton”. Entry, Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum. Online
“Penelope Barker”. Entry, Penelope Barker House Welcome Center. Online
“Judith Sargent Murray”. Article, The Sargent House Museum. Online