Movement for Women’s Rights in Great Britain and the United States

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Abolitionist movement
Women in politics
Socialist utopia
Conclusion
Work Cited

Introduction

The nineteenth century period witnessed a lot in terms of women involvement in political and other socio-economic affairs. They became increasingly aware of the various local, regional and international matters affecting them at large. Besides, their intense involvement in religious, philanthropy and other socially engaging activities like abolitionist movements, politics and utopia greatly exposed them to events surrounding their immediate environment. This essay analytically explores some of the conditions which helped bring about movement for women’s right in Great Britain and United States before the close of the last century. Moreover, the essay further attempts to investigate the most significant demand of these early women’s activists.

Abolitionist movement

To begin with, North American and Continental Europe women had already engaged themselves into charitable work which inevitably led into what was referred to as social activism. This took place as early as the beginning of the nineteenth century. Once they found their way into activism, the politicking spirit engulfed them by leaps and bounds. One of the key areas where women voiced their concerns was in the abolition of slave trade. Although both Great Britain and United States had declared slave trade illegal by the first decade of the nineteenth century, the reform and implementation process was considered to be taking place at a snail’s pace. In fact, in 1824, a woman activist, Elizabeth Heyrick vehemently differed with those supporting the slow and gradual abolition approach to slave trade (French & Poska 334). She decried foul by lamenting that more action than mere talk was needed to free the enslaved lot whom she asserted were not productive even to their masters while in that state of slavery. As this debate was picking up, more women joined hands and spoke in one voice calling for the end in this illegitimate trade. Surprisingly, the older lot who were equally against slave trade “was often uncomfortable with the overtly political nature of these women’s activities” (French & Poska 335).

Women in politics

The anti slave trade activities was not the only point of concern that rose the eye brows of women from Great Britain. History acknowledges the fact there were women politicians even during the era of Queen Caroline affair. Women were drawn closer to this scandal in which the Queen was implicated. This growing women interest did not attract any attention from male politicians in Britain. Women were more or less considered to be home makers and were expected to play subordinate and supportive roles only. This debate on women’s rights extended to the floor of the British parliament whereby the conservatives preferred status quo while the liberals eyed for reforms on equal representation and rights (French & Poska 337). Unfortunately though, the reform bill presented to the British parliament did not receive unanimous backing and it failed setting the stage for Chartism. According to French and Poska (337), Chartism expounded that democracy in parliament was the most applicable strategy of improving economic, social and gender imbalance. Indeed, it is through Chartist movement that women secured a platform of exploring both their feminist and political ambitions.

Socialist utopia

On the other hand, it was not definite that all women would exercise due restraint and patience and wait for political reforms before their rights could be addressed. More radical women activists faced this concern head on through utopian socialism (French & Poska 338). The earliest utopian practices embraced by Saint-Simonians and Fourierists did not include the female gender in the leadership ladder. There were dubious claims that women were inadequate without the approval of men. This deceptive point of view was not only a disgrace to the womenfolk but also a setback to women’s wish of attaining equity. Consequently, splinter groups were formed culminating into movements to a free woman world.

Conclusion

When women entrenched themselves into politics and other social activities, awareness level in terms of rights went high leading to the formation of the various movements mandated to champion their concerns (French & Poska 340). In addition, the most significant demand of these early women’s group was lack of equity in socio-political and economic representations. French and Poska (341-342) elaborate that in spite of the mixed reactions women activists posed, majority were keen on equity on both gender on matters dealing with politics, culture, labour and social justice in general.

Work Cited

French L. Katherine and Poska M. Allyson. Women and gender in the western past: Since 1500, Houghton: Mifflin, 2006. Print

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Movement for Women’s Rights in Great Britain and the United States

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