Posts tagged gender equality
Posts tagged gender equality
“…One-half of the moral and intellectual power of the world is excluded from any voice or vote in civil government. In this denial of the right to participate in government, not merely the degradation of of women and the perpetuation of a great injustice happens, but the maiming and repudiation of one-half of the moral and intellectual power of the government of the world” (Frederick Douglass, 1882).
Excuse me while I cry at the fact that this man is dead.
Okay. I’m fine.
Women are supposed to stay in the home, shut up, and do what they’re told, right?
Nope. Try again.
See, this model worked for a while. Then women started grumbling and glaring more obviously and some strong and highly opinionated people were born.
Thus, rights.
Well. Sort of.
Frederick Douglass, besides being who I want to be when I grow up, had things to say about the American government. Namely, that they would crash and burn unless they let women into the system. Cause half of the population’s intelligence and morality was being ignored. He is, I believe, a feminist of an older sort—the type that believed that women are equal to men, but also that they differ in function. He mentions that women have been more involved in the freeing of slaves. He implies that women have more of a conscious than men, that they are more moral and compassionate creatures. This is not necessarily untrue (I’d believe it). It does, however, portray women as being more gentle, and more capable of caretaking. This may be insulting to some. My mother would probably agree with the statement (I don’t know how badly I would’ve turned out if my father had raised me. I’d probably be on drugs.).
I believe some women are better caretakers, and some are not. I think it’s individual. I do agree that both sexes are equal.
In conclusion, Frederick Douglass needs a shrine. Or several.
