Susan B. Anthony

Susan B. Anthony is one of the most notable names when speaking about the origins of feminism. 

Unusual for women of her time, Anthony grew up with a stable education for her whole life, and eventually became a teacher. Because of her experience teaching, she was able to later spread suffrage ideas throughout educational systems. She was raised in a Quaker household with seven siblings. Her interest in feminism sparked from popular Quaker belief that everyone is equal under the eyes of God. Although this belief was mainly applied to socio-economic divides, Anthony took it and applied it to women and slaves as well. 

Before she advocated for women's rights, Susan B. Anthony began with the fight for abolition of slavery. With these issues, she was able to have a strong political voice, hosting rallies and gathering petition signatures to outlaw slavery. Because of her early activism, she could pick up on strong skills needed for her future endeavors. 

In 1848, The United States held its very first women’s rights convention in Seneca Falls. Because it was the first convention, it officially kickstarted the women’s suffragist movement as an actionable issue. 

At this convention, Anthony’s attendance allowed her to be introduced to the concept of feminism. Additionally, she met Elizabeth Candy Stanton, a female writer, who was experienced in feminist activism already. Stanton introduced her to the principles of women’s suffrage, and inspired Anthony in her stances within feminism. 

The pair worked together on several issues of women’s rights, but began with the Women’s New York State Temperance society. With this society, they allowed women to be a part of temperance groups as well, as most temperance groups did not accept women as members. They instructed women to divorce their husbands who were drunks and alcoholics, and brought up the principle of the dignity of womanhood. 

During the Civil War, the suffragist movement was overpowered by the abolitionist movement. Many believed that privileged women did not need more representation. Anthony completely waved off this idea, and brought up issues of intersectionality. Specifically, Anthony emphasizes how half of the slaves were women, and were especially underprivileged. Additionally, most female slaves had been violently abused by their enslavers.

Many of the early voices of feminism had only fought for the rights of wealthy white women. Susan B. Anthony was a trailblazer of her time, as she not only advocated for the rights of white women, but for the rights of all women. 

Anthony had long dreamt of a nation where women had the ability to propose legislation alongside men. She regularly met with congressmen in DC, actively trying to make a difference. 

Eventually, Anthony formed the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA), with the purpose of fighting against the recently ratified fifteenth amendment. The Fifteenth Amendment was the passage to grant the right to vote for African American men. The women of this association believed that this amendment should also have included the suffrage rights of women as well. Alongside their efforts to be included in this amendment, they also supported a variety of reforms that aimed to make women equal members of society. 

In the election of 1872, Anthony was accompanied by other members of the NWSA to cast ballots. When they entered, there was no force of opposition stopping them. Weeks later, Anthony and the other women were arrested, and put on trial. She sat in front of a jury of twelve men, with no woman in sight. This was a perfect representation of the gender hierarchy’s embedment in the United States government. 

The public response to Anthony’s activism was not one of positive light. The people were threatened by her zealous and hardworking personality, something they had not often seen before in women. Newspapers targeted her, and lies were spread about her, yet she persevered and continued to advocate for what was right up until her death in 1906. 

With her perseverant activism, Anthony was able to allow more women to receive formal education, have more rights on controlling properties, attain better job opportunities, and leave abusive husbands. Additionally, her work and dedication to her cause inspired the suffrage movement which led to the passing of the 19th amendment allowing women to vote in 1920.