Observations on the Real Rights of Women, 1818
From Hannah Crocker. Observations
on the Real Rights of Women.
It
must be the appropriate duty and privilege of females to convince by reason and
persuasion. It must be their peculiar province to sooth the turbulent passions
of men, when almost sinking in the sea of care, without even an anchor of hope
to support them. Under such circumstances women should display their talents by
taking the helm, and steer them safe to the haven of rest and peace, and that
should be their own happy mansion, where they may always retire and find safe
asylum from the rigid cares of business. It is women's peculiar right to keep
calm and serene under every circumstance in life, as it is undoubtedly her
appropriate duty, to sooth and alleviate the anxious cares of man, and her
friendly and sympathetic breast should be found the best solace for him, as she
ahs an equal right to partake with him the cares, as well as the pleasures of
life.
It
was evidently the design of heaven by the mode of our first formation, that
they should walk side by side as mutual supports in all times of trial. There
can be no doubt, that, in most cases, their judgement
may be equal with the other sex; perhaps even on the subject of law, politics,
or religion, they may form good judgement, but it
would be improper, and physically very incorrect, for the female character to
claim the statesman's birth or ascend the rostrum to gain the loud applause of
men, although their powers of industry may be equal to the task. . . .
From
the local circumstances and the domestic cares of which most females are
involved, it cannot be expected they should make so great improvement in
science and literature, as those whose whole life has been devoted to their
studies. It must not be expected that the reputable mechanic will rival the man
of letters and science, neither would it well suit the female frame or
character to boast of her knowledge in mechanism or her skill in the manly art
of slaughtering fellow-men It is woman's appropriate duty and peculiar
privilege to cultivate the olive branches around her table. It is for her to
implant in the juvenile breast the first seed of virtue, the love of God, and
their country, with all the other virtues that shall prepare them to shine as
statesmen, soldiers, philosophers, and christians.
Some of our first worthies have boasted that they imbibed their heroic
principles with their mother's milk; and by precept and example were first
taught the love of virtue, religion, and their country. Surely they should have
a right to share with them the laurel, but not the right of conquest; for that
must be man's prerogative, and woman is to rejoice in his conquest. There may
be a few groveling minds who think women should not aspire to any further
knowledge that to obtain enough of the cynical art to enable them to compound a
good pudding, pie, or cake for her lord and master to discompound.
Others, of a still weaker class, may say it is enough for women scientifically
to arrange the spinning wheel and distaff, and exercise her extensive capacity
in knitting and sewing, since the fall and restoration of woman these
employments have been the appropriate duties of the female sex. The art of
dress, which in some measure produced the art of industry, did not commence
till sin, folly and shame introduced the first invention of dress which ought
to check the modest female from every species of wantonness and extravagance in
dress; cultivate the mind and trifling in dress will soon appear in its true
colors.
To
those who appear unfriendly to female literature let me say, in behalf of the
sex, they claim no right to infringe on any domestic economy; but those ladies
who continue in a state of celibacy, and find pleasure in literacy researches,
have a right to indulge the propensity and solace themselves with the feast of
reason and knowledge; also those ladies who in youth have laid up a treasure of
literacy and scientific information, have a right to improve further literary
researches, after they have truthfully discharged their domestic duties. . . .
Women
have an equal right, with the other sex, to form societies for promoting
religious, charitable and benevolent purposes. Every association formed for
benevolence, must have a tendency to make man mild, and sociable to man; an
institution formed for historical and literary researches, would have a happy
effect on the mind and manners of the youth of both sexes. As the circulating
libraries are often resorted to after novel by both sexes for want of judgement to select works of more merit, the study of
history would strengthen their memory and improve the mind, whereas novels have
a tendency to vitiate the mind and morals of the youth of each sex before they
are ripe for more valuable acquisitions. Much abstruse study or metaphysical
reasoning seldom agrees with the natural vivacity or the slender frame of many
females, therefore the moral and physical distinction of the sex must be
allowed; if the powers of the mind are fully equal, they must still estimate
the rights of men, and own it their prerogative exclusively to content for
public honors and preferment, either in church or state, and females may
console themselves and feel happy, that by the moral distinction of the sexes
they are called to move in a sphere of life remote from those masculine
contentions, although they hold equal right with them of studying every branch
of science, even jurisprudence.
But
it would be morally wrong and physically imprudent for any woman to attempt
pleading at the bar of justice as no law can give her the right of deviating
from the strictest rules of rectitude and decorum. No servile dependence on men
can be recommended under the christian system, for
that abolished the law of slavery, and left only a claim on their friendship;
as the author of their nature originally intended, they should be the
protectors of female innocence, and not the fatal destroyers of their peace and
happiness. They aim no right at the gambling table, and to the moral sensibility
of females how disgusting must be the horse-race, the bull-bate, and the
cock-fight. These are barbarous scenes, not suited to the delicacy of females.
It
must be woman's prerogative to shine in the domestic circle, and her
appropriate duty to teach and regulate the opening mind of her little flock,
and teach their juvenile ideas how to shoot forth into well improved
sentiments. It is most undoubtedly the duty and privilege of woman to regulate
her garrison with such good order and propriety, that the generalization of her
affection, shall never have reason to seek other quarters for well disciplined
and regulated troops, and there must not a murmur or beat be heard throughout
the garrison, except that of the heart vibrating with mutual affection,
reciprocally soft. The rights of woman displayed on such a plan, might perhaps
draw the other sex from the nocturnal ramble to the more endearing scenes of
domestic peace and harmony. The woman, who can gain such a victory, as to
secure the undivided affection of her generalissimo, must have the exclusive
right to shine unrivalled in her garrison. . . .
By
the mutual virtue, energy and fortitude of the sexes, the freedom and
independence of the