View source for 328 2010--Week 4 Questions/Comments

'''''Impressive discussion'''''

== Linda Gordon, “Black and White Visions of Welfare: Women’s Welfare Activism, 1890-1945” ==

'''On page 23 Linda Gordon states that "Black welfare reformers were more concerned to combine the development of protective institutions for women with an antirape discourse. Among whites, rape was not an important topic of discussion during this period, and in protective work for women and girls, male sexuality was treated as natural and irrepressible" and I understand that the times were completely different but how did society of the time use this to justify rape?''' Infidelity and Adultery I could possibly understand this being used, but not rape. She even uses the word "girls" which to me suggests children. Was it still okay then? From the rest of the document by Linda Gordon I also take it that everything that is wrong with the welfare reform system today was put in place by the white reformers--Maybe they should have left the social work up to the Black reformers?   -Ssellers

'''The welfare activism article notes that a fair amount of the black women involved in welfare were married, and it was more generally acceptable for black women to be involved in public life than white women, which I suppose is partly due to their positions as heads of families during slavery’s heyday and the fact that many black women had to work outside the home due to economic necessity (except these reform women who were pretty well off). However, Anna J. Cooper seemed to believe that black men were not supportive of women outside the home and didn’t recognize their value in politics and reform. What accounts for this disparity?''' -- Taylor Brann

I thought it was cool how even though black women may not have had the advantages that white women had in the reform movement, they made the best out of it. White women raised money but they also were able to gain support or recognition from people in congress. Black women were not so fortunate but they did not let that stop them; they had bake sales, church dinners, and other such functions to raise money and awareness. -Amy Van Ness

Like Amy, I noticed the differences between how black and white women raised money for their causes. It seems like white women relied far more on their status and privilege to gain access to (mostly white men) policy makers and other influential leaders who could help them. Black women, for the most part, did not have this option. So they turned to their communities for support, in much the same way as they had turned voting and politics into community activities. Black women already had a solid tradition of getting the community to rally around them for a cause, so when the need arose for schools and public health measures and other programs, women again banded to together for the good of the group as a whole. -Mary Ann

I agree with Mary Ann's observations on how the different races raised money, awareness, and support. It should be expected that white women primarily relied upon their race and social status because those are integral parts of their society. Black women, however, were all looked down upon, and seen as having the same roots. They were all seen as inferior, and many seen as ex-slaves or children of slaves, solely because of their race. --MDvorak

I found the most intriguing part, and yet a short piece, of Linda Gordon’s article to be on the Lesbianism and homosexual escapades. Different from black women’s dependence on their community and occasionally their husbands, white women greatly relied on one-another rather than their husbands or families. “The great majority of white women were single-34 percent had ever been married, and only 18 percent remained married during their peak political activity,” (pg. 229). To this effect women Gordon gives the fact that “28 percent were in relationships with other women…called Boston marriages,” (pg. 229). I think that we as a generation think that Lesbianism is a new trend/ideal, and yet these women were practicing it in the 18th-19th century. This was probably not seen as a controversial idea to these women, so why is it such a big issue today when is a part of history? ---Morgan M.

I don't believe that rape was ever "justified" by anyone, and it has always been seen as a barbarism, even when it was performed ritualistically by warring states. '''Just because a society's dialogue doesn't include rape doesn't mean that it was accepted, by any means'''. Also, to encapsulate human nature as such is not a dismissal, as is evident even in our so-enlightened society when we "dismiss" the actions of men that is at times chauvinistic or derogatory as "boys will be boys"--does that mean that such behavior, speaking in broad terms, justified? I would think no. Also, while it seems as though black women did not have the kind of access to politicized power as white women did, Gordon points out, perhaps in contradiction to some of her conclusions, that half of the African American women who were married (85%) had influential husbands. I don't really see much difference between what the African American women did in comparison to WASP women, despite Gordon's attempts to highlight them. '''To me, it seems as though the only thing that really differed, notwithstanding the race issue (which I'm not dismissing), was the time that had elapsed between emancipation and what was then contemporary times. Like WASP women's groups, black women's societies were exclusionary, and it seems that if a few more generations had elapsed then the black women would be just as focused on maintaining social hierarchies as white women were. Perhaps they're concentration in the rural South maintained this as immigrants seldom ventured South and therefore black women would not have a class of "others" to perform activism on. But then again the entire African American community was persecuted against so I'm sure it's not as simplistic as that.''' I found the "white view" as a class issue, which I agree with and that the WASP women who were single and had a great deal of autonomy assumed that this was a class privilege and something that would not be desirable for poorer women.       -schang 

While I agree with the comments above noticing the differences between black and white women's approaches to fundraising I found interesting how they worked together as well. According to the article women seemed to be the ringleaders not only for rights for themselves but for equality by working together against race riots, ie. Chicago 1919 p. 224. Even more interesting were women in the South working together, where they suffered racial violence constantly. It was not common to see women of both races working together for a cause but both races had common interests, each was under the domestic sphere and both had to fight for not only themselves but generations to come. I did think the way black women worked together was more effective, even without government support they were able to come together without the support of men and build a bond through sisterhood and charity. -Megan W.

I thought the information presented in this article regarding the priorities of black women and their focus on education was revealing.  '''On page 225, Gordon points out that “education was the single most important area of activism for black women”.  It makes sense that this would be the case, but I would have guessed that issues of equality would have outranked education as the primary concern.''' –E Fritz

It seems almost like black and white women were working towards two entirely different goals.  White women were working towards recognition and forming different groups such as the YWCA.  But they were either excluding these black women, or they were being excluded by society.  It is hard to beleive that blacks were even being lynched in the 20th century.  The push for women's rights for whites seems to be taking much greater strides than for blacks because of the intense segregation.  I feel for the black women more so than white women because they were forced to go through many more difficult hardships for not only civil, but also women's rights.-afrisk

'''It is interesting that while all three groups (white women, black women, and Chinese women) influenced the development of both American society as a whole and their own closer knit community, there are not many documents supporting the influences of the minority groups which can be primarily attributed to how these women felt about their roles and what they wanted out of reform more than solely based on educational attainment.''' The white women were still invested in how middle class women were supposed to act (writing detailed letters or diaries, basically leaving behind traces of their existence and how they lived their lives) and therefore many more documents are available for study. The black women were concerned with getting improved reform for working conditions because their new lives involved becoming economically stable, and they had learned from their mothers and relatives that women were capable and expected to contribute to the household (during slavery they worked just as hard as the men and many times worked alongside them). The Chinese women came to America in the hopes of a new start, unfortunately most of the jobs and lifestyles they found themselves in were in brothels and other forms of prostitution (these are not exactly professions that one writes about to remember fondly and therefore many records are not well kept). –jmarshal

== Judy Yung, "The Social Awakening of Chinese American Women as Reported in ''Chung Sai Yat Po'', 1900-1911" ==

It’s ironic that in the early 20th century China was trying to emulate the Western world, including increasing women’s rights, to get out from under the hand of the West, and Chinese Americans emulated those reforms going on in China and not in their own country because they were so excluded from American life that they felt a closer kinship to China. -- Taylor Brann


I think it was interesting how the reasons why people decided it was a good idea for women to have an education in America paralleled the decision for Chinese women to become educated. On page 263 Yung writes, "Educated women make better wives and mothers; better wives and mothers make better families and citizens; better families and citizens make a stronger China." Even though I don't think this should be a number one reason for a woman to be given an education, at the time I would have been happy that women's education and higher education was finally accepted. -Amy Van Ness

Chinese Americans were witnessing freedoms in America that were not offered to them as Chinese Americans in America or China.  Binding the feet was an example of their oppression to that of their husband.  It’s interesting that binding of the feet was compared to binding of an American woman corset.  They felt education was the key to stop the oppression.  Chinese American lineage was to their home where their families were so they naturally felt the need to change things back at home.  --Mhimes

The CSYP was a very effective source to bringing light to the atrocities that Chinese American faced and the changes that needed to take place.  Chinese American women could speak out through these journals in order to reach out to others and make changes.  As Judy Yung noted though a lot did not read these articles, the news spread.  Women talk and share their thoughts with other woman evoking their spirit and that brings change for them. --Mhimes

'''Interesting reading, yes--new information, not really, at least to me.''' Why is it ironic that China saw the way out of Western domination as its emulation? That mentality has been repeated throughout history, from the Egyptians adopting chariots to overthrow the Hyksos to Afghan and Iraqi insurgents being found with US manuals on unconventional warfare. Also, it would seem only natural that the suppression of entry into the political sphere of an immigrant population would foster the desire to interact with the mother country. '''An aside--my own use of that term, "mother country" fascinates me in that nations have almost always been characterized as feminine and wonder what that kind of gendered language indicates about the pervasiveness of such gendered dichotomies in everyday life.''' Other things I found "interesting"--the actions of politicians and probably most likely liberal-minded reformers from the Progressive Era directly contributed to the high rate of prostitution among Chinese women as they barred further immigration in California and other western states. '''Also found significant the direction that these women's reform actions were aimed at--the revitalization of China as a nation, rather than the individualistic aims of many female reformers in America--kind of reminiscent of the African American women from the previous reading and their focus on universal rights etc. than their white female counterparts.''' -schang

'''The comparison between bound feet and corsets was very important.  Westerners are quick to judge bound feet for the horrible physical impact they had on women, but really, corsets were not any better.'''  They bent ribcages, moved organs around, etc.  My great grandmother still had to wear a corset long after they were out of fashion because her body was incapable of supporting itself anymore.  And in both the case of foot binding and corsets, while it's true that men perpetuated the situation because of their ideas of what a beautiful woman should look like, women themselves were the ones to support the practices and get their daughters to do so as a sign of their femininity.   I think the author took too much of a black-and-white stance on the subject of foot binding, which as painful as it was, it was not simply a sign of the oppression of Chinese women by Chinese men.  That being said, it was important for Chinese women, both in China and America, to reject that tradition in order to begin to step out of their traditional roles.  - Alice W.

I agree with Alice that foot binding was as much perpetuated by Chinese women as it was by Chinese men--in the accounts that I've read, it was the mothers and grandmothers, of their own accord and not under orders from a man, who imposed the foot binding on their daughters and granddaughters. The necessity of abolishing this practice to further the emancipation of Chinese (and Chinese American) women was interesting to read--it appeared to be a strong cultural symbol (much like the corset, which was mentioned) that opened doors for larger freedoms. The other interesting idea I got from this article was how nationalistic the Chinese American women were. Although they lived in a different country, they identified less with their rights as women in the new country than they did with the rights of women in their ancestral home. --Sarah Smethurst

== Chapter 1 – Visions of the New Woman ==
'''''Nellie Bly, Why go around the world, 1890'''''

'''Here is a woman ready to trek around the world, alone, with only the contents of a little bag. She has the gumption to convince her boss that she can make the trip, yet she still falls back on the idea that if she conducts herself 'properly' she will "always find men ready to protect" (pg. 7) her.''' I don't fault her for wanting this protection, travel always entails a certain degree of danger, but I do wonder at her assumptions as to what constitutes proper behavior. In making the trip, hasn't she already broken several social norms concerning appropriate womanly conduct? And did she believe that men the world over would hold the same ideas about women and their behavior? What of her safety if her conduct was deemed improper? -Mary Ann

Here are the things that I found interesting in this primary document--for such a daring New Woman she seems awfully dependent on the chivalry of men. Example, "I knew if my conduct was proper I should always find men ready to protect me." (7) '''So whether she had the outward trappings of the New Woman, she still thought in the same old traditional way that men are meant to protect women.''' Geez, we don't see that today at all...outward trappings of independence and the concurrent maintenance of a traditional outlook on the behavior of men...double standard much? -schang

'''I found this article really interesting because Nellie seems like a very independent and confident woman. That is why it was such a surprise to me that she quit journalism to marry a 72 year old man!!''' Perhaps she loved him, or maybe she thought that her job couldn't last forever and she needed someone to support her? It did also say that she shed a few years off her age to make herself seem more youthful. Maybe there was a common thought in society that once a woman got too old, she wasn't useful anymore. If that is true, then it must have been quite a strong societal expectation in order to get Nellie to stop what she loved doing. I think its also important to notice that Nellie had to stop her job when she got married. She obviously loved doing because she wanted to go back to it when her husband died, so there must have been some pressure on her to quit and spend her time being a wife. -- Angie

'''It is unfortunate that in order to prove that she was capable of doing something that was believed to only have been able to be done by a man she had to wear the same outfit for close to 3 months straight. That's not masculine, it's disgusting.''' This definitely was one of the most interesting documents that we had to read and I love that at the end she talked about how she packed too much, versus too little. It was like, in trying to prove that as a female she could do something she became an inspiration. It even still is pretty inspirational to me at least.                 -Ssellers

At first reading this article I initially thought, “How did Nellie think that she could actually do this in 1890? Was it even possible then?” Thinking more into it I can see why. '''She wanted to do something ambitious, that would make for a great story, but also make for a great experience, so why shouldn’t she as a woman be able to travel the world?''' Like Sarah, I feel bad that Nellie had to travel in one outfit for three months, but as she describes she is able to fit a good amount of clothing into her one hand-satchel, “two traveling caps…a pair of slippers, a dressing gown, tennis blazer…several changes of underwear,” (pg. 7). I would hope that priority number one would be the underwear. At the end of the article, I found that Nellie seems to indicate that she may have some sort of “baggage” in her life and I may be reading too much into it, but the way she speaks of the “the responsibilities and worries I escaped by not having a lot of trunks and boxes to look after,(pg. 7), seems to be a hidden meaning to her own emotional baggage.---Morgan M. 

I was also shocked at ther marriage to the rather old man, thats old today, so I'm sure back then that had to be quite an old guy.  I feel that Nellie is a perfect example of this New Woman, out embracing the world without a care or fear in the world, ready to tackle any man's job. Good for her. - Christine L

'''I wish derring-do was still in use.'''  --Sarah Smethurst

'''''Bertha Palmer: The Fair Women, Chicago, 1893'''''

I was actually surprised that Bertha Palmer used her speech at the World Fair to both honor women and criticise men's attitudes towards women.  Women had been allowed a space at the Fair to display their own creativity, but it was within a well defined and controlled "sphere" designated by men.  '''With Palmer's speech, we are getting to see a woman recognize the inequality of the separate spheres doctrine and publicly push for the inclusion of women in more than restrictive "spheres" constructed by men.'''  After all, how can a woman truly be free when she is being oppressed by men in all that she does? -- CBrau

The reasoning behind the creation of the women's pavilion seem more in line with what I imagine to be the goals of feminists (8). Then again, the "acknowledgement" that the women credit men in the passage, that heretofore, men have been the sole contributors to humanity, etc etc seemed to dismiss or perhaps demonstrate ignorance of what women had accomplished throughout history. -schang

'''''Anna Cooper: Black Women Plan to Lead Their Race, 1892'''''  -- Paper Source

In the reading by Anna J. Cooper, “Black Women Plan to Lead Their Race,” I was surprised to find that African American women were a part of the club movement as much as white women. Though the clubs were separate, they paralleled each other. I think it is interesting that the reform movement was so big among black women because they were breaking out of their presumed role more so than white women because of their race. Not only did they have to worry about being women, but they also had to worry because they were black. During this time racism was an issue, and some would argue that these women should be worried about the advancement of their race rather than being part of the reform movement. However, Anna J. Cooper argues that (page 13) “To be a woman in such an age carries with it a privilege and an opportunity never implied before. But to be a woman of the Negro race in America, and to be able to grasp the deep significance of the possibilities of the crisis, is to have a heritage, it seems to me, unique in the ages.” In my opinion, Cooper believes that it is BECAUSE these women are black that they have the opportunity to make big changes. Being part of the reform movement seems to be a way for black women to seek opportunities that they may not have otherwise had. --Erin Sanderson

I found that Cooper's statement concerning what constituted equality--"without violence and without suing or special patronage then and there the whole Negro race enters with me," and whether or not the Civil Rights movement and aftermath, accompanied with violence, court action and affirmative action corresponds with her vision of equality. On that note, what did she mean particularly by the exaggerated "importance of mere political advantage" (12)?
-schang

'''''Ida B. Wells''''' – '''Add to this discussion?'''

"Virtue knows no colorline, and the CHIVALRY which depends upon the complexion of skin and texture of hair can command no honest respect." (17)--what did Wells mean by chivalry? -schang

I think by using the word CHIVALRY Wells is just stressing the basic respect that should be shown between two humans, rather than just relationships between men and women.-MDvorak

Wells makes some very good arguments and systematic, logical rebuttals to the ridiculous excuses of the Southern white man for lynching, especially towards the end when she uses their own argument--sensitivity and chivalry to women--against them, pointing out that they "assume a chivalry which they do not possess" (16). By this, she means "respect for the womanhood which circumstances place d in his power" (17). (To schang:) She really means CHIVALRY in this true sense, pointing out that chivalry does not discriminate and that chivalry which does make race distinctions "commands no honest respect." (To MDvorak:) In the larger context of the essay she probably means respect between humans, but here she singles out chivalry towards women to make her point stronger.  --Sarah Smethurst

'''''Frances Willard'''''

'''The irony of a woman/feminist naming her bicycle, a possession, a thing, Gladys should mean something, unless I'm reading too much into her words. But then again, her description of how Gladys was a "mystery" and that she had "mastered" all her kinks and that she put a bridle in her mouth and whipped her in victory...all very masculine language directed towards a female object. Even if that object is an inanimate bicycle, Willard's use of such blatantly gendered language merits some sort of analysis.''' -schang

'''''Anzia Yezierska''''' – Immigrant Daughter and the Possibilities of the New World

'''Immigrant women like Anzia and her fictional heroine Sara faced unique challenges at the turn of the century. They were caught between the growing American emphasis on education and more independence for women and their tradition bound fathers and husbands. Men like Sara's father in the reading probably saw their daughters' rebellious streaks as not only a threat to their patriarchal authority but also to the culture and customs they brought from their countries of origin. When immigrant daughters went to school or moved out on their own they joined an 'American' movement that their parents may not have understood or feared for its ability to remove their daughters from an acceptably ethnic upbringing.''' -Mary Ann 

I strongly agree with Mary Ann, I think fathers especially immigrant fathers wanted the "American Dream" and felt that when they arrived it was hard to achieve so held onto the one stable condition they always knew as being heads of the household. Men, like Sara's father used a different tactic to establish authority through the use of religion,"It says in the Torah, only through a man has a woman an existence." (22) contradicting the idea in America where women were normally seen as morally superior.   This made me wonder if the influence of new religions and cultures in America helped bring about the women's movement? Did statements such as the one Sara's father made cause women to rebel more and prove they did not need a man nor his religion to survive. -Megan W. 

The story of the Bread Givers by Anzia Yezierska is an example of traditional values and norms crashing headfirst into a changing society.  As a man of God in their old country, Sara’s father would have been required to provide spiritual leadership to his community in exchange for food and shelter; but in America that is not the case.  Instead, he forces his family to sacrifice so that he can continue to focus completely on his religion.  Sara’s ability to break away from her father’s overbearing dominance also forces her to turn her back on her sisters and mother.  This conflict between generations was a prominent narrative at the turn of the century. – E Fritz  

Sara's assertion that America is nothing like the old country, and that in America she can do whatever she wants is a very interesting concept, coming from a woman. This was the assumption many immigrants coming to America although the reality of the situation oftentimes clashed violently with the ideal. '''That an immigrant female author would write in such glowing terms about the possibilities of being a woman in America should mean something, although I don't know how the story ends and it is fiction.''' -schang

I was surprised by the fact that Anzia actually left her household. Although we don't know how long she was gone from home, the fact that she left was probably a huge step for her. It seems that her view of family changed from her old country and when she arrived in America. The ideals in America about how women should be on their own were newly introduced into society, yet for Anzia, these ideals gave her the opportunity for another life, another chance to live life the way she wanted to, rather than the way her father wanted. I feel that her situation was one commonly seen in immigrant families. It was probably hard to deal with the cultural change when coming to America, but at the same time, I feel that Americans were also dealing with a cultural and social change, with women becoming more integrated into society. --- Alex M. 

'''''Edith Eudora Ammons''''' – A Woman Homesteader

When I have pictured manifest destiny, I have hardly pictured Edith Ammons and her sister, two women, moving in to the West alone to build up new lives together.  Of course, I would never think of the West in the 19th century as a place of freedom and new beginnings because I know how rough it was from studying history. ''' Ammons herself admits, "This was not the West as I had dreamed it... It was a desolate, forgotten land, without vegetation save for the dry, crackling grass, without visible tokens of fertility" (p. 26).  Yet, the sisters toughed it out, taking on hardship after hardship in exchange for their freedom to live where they wanted and do what they wanted.'''  I think that with our comforts of today, it is often hard to imagine women putting themselves through such trials to achieve the freedom they desired. -- CBrau

== Chapter 2 – Expanding Horizons for Educated Women ==

'''''Molly Dewson writes home from Wellesley (1894-96)'''''

One thing I really liked about this story was how Molly talked about  how she struggled with her studies. I thought this was important because it shows that girls weren't just sent away to learn how to become good wives, but they were actually taught things. They actually had to learn science and practice experiments. '''Molly seems like a completely modern college girl in the way she complains about her classes!''' She also talks about her social life quite openly. Girls were willing to dress up like boys in order to go out and have fun. Its nice to see that all girls of that period weren't prim and proper like we are sometimes led to believe. -- Angie

'''I think the first thing that struck me when reading this was the idea of "smashing".  Did the intro to the letter say that it was acceptable for young women to fall in love with one another in college during that time period.'''  I find that hard to believe considering the fear of parents that their daughters would not be fit for marriage.  '''I also suppose that there might be some things missing from these letters, I mean I know I don't tell my mom everything that I do at college.''' - John Rowley

I was also thrown off by the mention of "smashing" was there also a period of time before the turn of the century where there was some sort of sexual liberation? Or was the idea of "smashing" something that was allowed in college as long as these affairs did not last after graduation. I was also impressed with the frank openness of Molly's letters to her parents, especially when she talked about dressing up as a boy. Was this standard behavior for college girls? -Emma

'''''Jane Addams discusses the early days of Hull House (1910)'''''

In class we spoke some of this issue that the “New Woman” faced about what to do after leaving college. Here I found what Jane Addams and Ellen Starr do very admirable, such as creating the famous Hall House. In today’s world you don’t see many women, especially white, moving into “bad” parts of cities to truly help the people there. But these women I found fearless of being in Chicago such as the incident with them leaving the side door left open and “were much pleased in the morning to find that we possessed a fine illustration of the honesty and kindliness of our new neighbors,” (pg. 36). I would have been so upset that I had risked my home and self, just being in a new place for the first night is nerve-racking, but leaving a door open would make me even more paranoid. '''These women were actually asked to “wash the newborn babies, and to prepare the dead for burial, to nurse the sick, and to ‘mind the children’,” (pg. 36). Where there no others to do these tasks, such as a mortician, hospital, or baby-sitters? I know to remember that these people were of the poorest of the city, but these women were asked to prepare the dead, really?''' Ew.---Morgan M.  

I feel like the concept of “after college, what?” (Jane Addams, MAW p. 34) is a universal question. Albeit when Addams was speaking, there were not many other higher position opportunities available for women after college, but in today’s society most students face the same dilemma regardless of gender, race and sex. It is difficult to find professional work after graduating college and sometimes it can take years to finally find your own place in the world. From then until now not much has changed in that department. –jmarshal

'''This doesn't really count as a comment but I've been to Hull House. It was rather smaller than I expected... I'm kind of amazed that the women of Hull House were able to accomplish so much in such a tiny space and with limited resources!'''  --Sarah Smethurst 

'''''Alice Hamilton explores the dangerous trades (1943)'''''

The first piece of this article I saw was that it parallels to the Jane Addams Article in that Alice Hamilton spent time at the Hull House. In her writing Alice actually mentions the Hull House, other than her biography at the beginning stating that she had spent time there and that she truly learned something from her time at the Hull House gives more evidence to the fact of Jane creating something great. “Life at Hull-House had accustomed me to going straight to the homes of people whom I wished to learn something and talking to them in their own surroundings, where they have courage to speak out what is in their minds,” (pg. 39). The Hull House taught Alice how to relate to people and I can see this consideration being very important, essential, to her profession of being a physician. In addition to her being a physician '''I think that a certain level of arrogance blossomed as well. Alice tends to look down on people at times, but at the same time being understanding;''' an example being her take on the reason for immigrants to take jobs to support their families after coming to American; “of course they took the first job they could find and if it proved to be one that weakened and crippled them---well, that was their bad luck!” (pg. 39). I found this a bit uncharacteristic of the women who spent time in the Hull House, but that is entirely my take. I’m sure being a women physician is something to be quite proud of, but to look down on immigrants who you are caring for because they are trying to make the best of the life they have been dealt, seems a bit harsh. ---Morgan M.    

'''I was so surprised with the statistic in the beginning of this article that said "around 1900 as many as one in five doctors were women, although that percentage would not be reached again until the 1970's."''' When did the switch happen? '''It seems that during the turn of the century, the opportunities for women experienced a brief moment of expansion before the doors were closed upon them again.''' I was impressed with the work that Alice Hamilton was able to accomplish, and was also horrified by her accounts of the devastating effects of poisonous materials in the workplace. I understand Morgans point about Hamilton coming off as very arrogant, however I think this type of attitude towards the poor was probably a characteristic of her upbringing most likely as a member of the middle or upper class. Even though Alice Hamilton did work towards finding a cure for diseases that afflicted the poor she may not necessarily feel that much warmth and compassion towards them. --Emma 

'''''Mamie Garvin Fields –Af-Am Women enter the Teaching profession (1983) '''''

This article struck a chord with me, as someone in Mary Washington's education program. One of the sentences about why black women turned to teaching got me thinking in particular about the reason why anyone becomes a teacher. "For black women, the choice of a teaching career often involved an element of racial self-consciousness, because teaching future generations was seen as a concrete way to improve conditions in the black community," (40).''' Do teachers teach simply to instill their own ideals and perspective on the next generation?'''   -- Kokeefe

'''''Mary Ritter Beard – Women and progressive politics. (1915)'''''

== Chapter 4—Feminists, Anarchists, and Other Rebel Girls ==


'''''Mother Jones and striking Colorado Mine workers (about 1903 strike)'''''

I enjoyed reading Mother Jones. Her writing is very strong and passionate, and its hard not to have emotions dredged up while reading about this strike. I found it interesting that she went and stayed with the families working in the mine to witness first-hand the hardships they endure. The conditions seemed to be not too far off of what miners dealt with in more recent times which is saddening. - Christine L

'''Why did they call her Mother Jones? What did this say about the continued assumptions concerning the proper role of women in society, albeit a radicalized one?''' Love her take on women's suffrage as a hobby of aristocratic women. A comment on her most enduring words--to not be ladylike...that implies that there was and will continue to be behavior that is classified as ladylike and unladylike...what does that mean about her own assumptions of where feminism would lead to? '''Concerning the actual text, I'm concerned about her attitude towards the constitutionality of laws. Her advocacy of violence as a means to correct what she sees as wrong is disconcerting. If more people with different opinions felt and acted the way she wanted, then we would end up without a government fairly soon. Aren't there people who take her words to heart about using violence, but in a manner opposite what she would have wanted? For example, the bombing of abortion clinics?''' -schang

'''''Charlotte Perkins Gilman – a Feminist challenge to the privatized home'''''

'''After reading “A Feminist Challenge to the Privatized Home” I am fairly certain that Charlotte Perkins Gilman hated to cook. Perhaps it is because of some culinary incident that happened to her during her first marriage where she ended up going crazy and leaving her husband and child and eventually marrying her cousin.''' Regardless of what happened, she is obviously traumatized. She believes that people should live in their private homes or apartments, but should also have communal areas (such as a kitchen) as well, and this will pretty much solve all problems of the world. Gilman’s ideas are actually quite smart when you put aside some of her obvious biases. The separation of labor when it comes to housework is really smart and efficient. If women were able to choose what task they wanted to perform (cook, clean, etc.) and they just focused on that task, things would get done much faster and much better. According to Gilman, this would lead to a more productive society overall because women would have the time to use their minds. –Erin Sanderson

Culinary misadventures aside, '''I'm curious about what people thought about "Motherhood is not a remote contingency, but the common duty and common glory of womanhood. If women did choose professions unsuitable to maternity, nature would quietly extinguish them by her unvarying process." (80)''' Ignoring my penchant for finding gendered language and Gilman's reference to nature as a woman (why, because nature provides and women produce children?) but her assertion that motherhood is the duty and glory of womanhood and that there are certain professions inherently not suitable for women, but if women want to do these things, then she can do so, it's just that nature will off her in a hurry. So...'''in her mind there really is such a thing as jobs that women shouldn't do, but should be able to try anyways?''' -schang

'''''Josephine Conger-Koneko – Wages for housework – 1913'''''

'''I thought that it was interesting how Josephine Conger-Koneko believed so strongly that women should be paid for housework. I especially thought that it was interesting how she expected a woman's husband's boss to pay her for her house labor, as it was the woman who made it possible for the man to work.''' However, she brings about a point she never truly expands upon; although it was unusual, not every working man did marry eventually. What about these men? They still managed to attend work without a wife taking care of their home. And if Conger-Koneko received her wish and women were paid for their labor at home, should these men be paid double for attending work and for taking care of their home?
-Anna K Holman

I found this article the most interesting out of all of them.  Josephine Conger-Koneko takes a very hard line on the position that women should be paid for their housework.  I also found it interesting how she equated a woman's life in the home doing housework for her husband as the life of a slave.  She seems to be a bit radical in her discussion of women being paid for household duties.  I also found it striking that Koneko argues that a husband should go to his employer and ask for wages for his wife at home doing the housework and how men getting married is actually benefical more for the employer because then he will have a continuing work force. '''Did women during this time believe they should be paid for work, and if after reading this, did woman's groups advocate paid labor for women working in the home?'''  -abratchi

This idea, as the blurb before Conger-Koneko's part noted, is still "squarely on the feminist agenda," (81) although these days it's discussed more in terms of GNP and economic value of wages for housework, raising children, etc. Although the all caps got very annoying and '''Conger-Koneko's rhetoric and tactless word choice ("ignorance and stupidity" 84) probably alienated more people than it convinced''', she presents a good point that deserved and continues to deserve discourse and action.  --Sarah Smethurst

Conger-Koneko is one passionate woman, with a very interesting arguement. Interesting in it's truth - with his wife taking care of his every need, a man could work better and more efficiently. However, with a wife, he had another body to feed and clothe and care for, so a pay increase should be in order. However, was it the common practice for men to live at home before getting married or did they strike out on their own? In that case, should a bachelor recieve a lower wage than a man being cared for by his mother? -- kokeefe

'''Margaret Sanger’s epiphany over birth control – 1936'''

I really enjoyed this particular article. I like how Sanger used a personal story to make birth control, which was typically thought of as a female issue, a family and medical issue. '''By bringing in the husband and children of Sadie Sachs, Sanger made it obvious that the situation didn't just affect the mother, but her family as well.''' She also reflected what a desperate situation it truly was to have another mouth to feed in a poor, working class family. I also liked how she illustrated the point that many men were irresponsible about birth control, so it should be up to the responsible woman to decide whether or not she should have a child. -Anna K Holman

I thought the Sanger article was very interesting.  I like how Sanger is able to use the story of Mrs. Sachs to show the rising need and importance for birth control.  '''I think it presents birth control as more of a social issue, rather than just an issue of liberating woman's sexuality.'''  She demonstrates that birth control is a necessity because of all the hurt, poverty and death that is occurring due to a lack  of birth control.  At this time, one had to have enough money for doctors who they could pay to tell them about birth control options/abortion due to the Comstock Laws, and I think this is important for why Sanger decides to advocate birth control, especially to the poorer classes.  -abratchi

I think the novelty of birth control and it's practices were particularly interesting during this time period.  It was a process which was becoming more widely popularized because it was directly connected to women's growing independence from men.  I agree with the fact that birth control began to empower women because it allowed them to choose weather or not they wanted to get pregnant, whereas previously they were almost forced into sex.  I think Sanger was wise in attempting to make birth control a more medical issue , but I also think it has feminist elements because it was able to empower women to make more significant sexual decisions.-Afrisk

Sanger was an insanely intelligent woman for using the Sachs family as a part of her argument. Rather than allowing for men (and women too) to scrutinize women for their decision to use birth control. She leaves some of the responsibility up to the men, by showing how it is relevant to their lives too.--MDvora

I never realized the story behind Margaret Sanger's quest to argue on behalf of birth control. She was deeply affected by Mrs. Sachs death, because Sanger had been unable to help her, and had no remedy to keep her from pregnancy. '''I think part of what made Sanger such a strong supporter of birth control was that she saw situations everyday where families were struggling because they had too many kids and therefore couldn't feed them or care for them adequately; or where women were so desperate for something to give them some sort of relief from always being pregnant.''' Sanger wanted to give women a way to enjoy life, to bring equality to men and women in one aspect. --- Alex M. 

'''Emma Goldman – A Radical view of women’s emancipation – 1911'''


I really liked this article because it reflects upon the push made by female activists towards the real freedoms they desired. Emma Goldman criticizes the "superficial goals of the modern woman's movement," and expresses that "True emancipation begins neither at the polls nor in the courts...it begins in woman's soul" (MAW 89). She also expresses that women do have the ability to shape or direct their own destiny. '''After reading a quote from page 90 where she said, "how much independence is gained if the narrowness and lack of freedom of the home is exchanged for the narrowness and lack of freedom of the factory, sweat-shop, department store, or office?" it reminded me of when slaves first got their freedom. They were free but not at all equal in social or economic status.''' With women gaining suffrage they gained the opportunities men held but they were still limited by sexual discrimination.   -David Fitch