I think personally that the passage we read was very empowering to the women today. It was nice to read an example of change throughout women´s history. The text really showed me that there were even levels to how much freedom women had. Certain groups of women could organize meetings about how they were treated but other groups of women were not allowed to attend for instance black women. I learned a lot more about what women endured in back in the day. I didn´t know that a women´s husband could really rape her, I never understood how women would just let men do this to them until I realized that if they fought back they would be the one´s put on trail or killed. I am so thankful and happy that times are finally changing and that I won´t be punished for having a voice as a women like my ancestors were.

Avi Cantor Gender Studies Ms. Menasion 10/5/16

In class last week, we created resolutions for laws that we thought should be put in place that relate to the treatment of our specific body of people. There were some similarities and some differences when it came to our laws versus the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions. I will start with stating the similarities between the activity and the Declaration. First, the Declaration has a list of things that men wouldn’t allow women to do, much like the document that we used to determine what laws were most important for, for instance, my group, the Cherokee women. An example of this is in the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions is the quote “He has never permitted her to exercise her inalienable right to the elective franchise.” This quote gives us a context as to one specific right that women of the time didn’t posses. Second, there obviously were resolution. In the activity, we had to make resolutions from laws that we created. An example of a resolution that I found was “Resolved, That the women of this country ought to be enlightened in regard to the laws under which they live, that they may no longer publish their degradation by declaring themselves satisfied with their present position, nor their ignorance, by asserting that they have all the rights they want.” The only difference between the Declaration and the activity that we did was that a Cherokee women’s values were a little different than white women’s or mill workers. I wasn’t that surprised to find out what injustices women faced in the 1800’s. I kind of already knew about it a little. Even though these resolutions didn’t surprise me, they were still upsetting. I think that even though some of these problems have been long eradicated, women face so many injustices in this country.

The Women’s Rights Convention Reflection

The Seneca Falls woman’s rights convention was an important start to giving women rights. Even though it didn’t seem big in the moment, it helped the movement of mistreatment of women. Women were seen as unless frail humans. They weren’t given the right to even sign documents, that means they can even sign for a divorce. That wasn’t fair. And then the man would get the children, why? The women were the ones who took care of the children but yet the law gives them to man. This convention was to raise awareness of these things. I find it ridiculous. I believe that the convention raised awareness, which brought more women to stand up as decades went by. It came to the point where women wanted the right to vote. Now today women have the right to vote. Many know that it was a big movement. But it’s interesting because this convention was the start of it and not many know about it. Women were mistreated and it was overlooked. A women could even have the right to wear her own cloths, it was the men’s decision. Still today, we comment on slut shaming all based on a stereotype that all women need to cover up. Or they need to please their man. I feel that the convention, if they had the freedom they did now, would stand against this to protect women. That they would think it’s wrong that you don’t have control over your own body. It was especially hard if you were an immigrant because most of the cases the husband would speak english. Giving more of a reason that he would own everything his women can’t, because he is most powerful. I believe this should be in history classes because it’s important to know how society changed over time, including social issues. If women want more social justice, I believe they could get it. If this convention did not happen, awareness on mistreatment of women would not have been as recognized.