Blog # 3

Section A

1. During the revolutionary era women had her great awakening in which women confront the patriarchal system, slavery, and oppression. In this era, women not only confront men’s authority but also debate women’s rights and roles in society. They started their movement in different spheres such as politics, economy, and social. Some of the biggest achievements were the right to get divorce and for widows to keep their common properties. Nonetheless, they were conditioned or need it to meet certain criteria. For example: in British women were not allowed to get divorce I contrast with America and only in South Carolina was approved although the process was not easy. Those were some of the restrictions that women had to deal with during their challenges. We need to emphasize that the patriarchal system was imposed for almost two centuries and to overcome to this system was very difficult because men were afraid of women to have the same rights (power). Their achievements were very limited or put it aside due to other events that were happening at the same time; as war, scarcity, immigration, etc.

2. That big turn over for women occurred when they decided to escape slavery. A decision that later on will give women’s opportunity to change or influence the government system. They started participating in their native councils’ deliberation alliances or they became loyalist or patriots. European women had an important role in war, protests, and boycotts what gave them recognition and value. Also, European women were more educated and active in society in contrast with native and african-american women.

3. The revolution led women to a new era leaving a deep mark during this era about what women were capable to do. They were positive advances as far as education, more participation in political roles, the escapism of slavery, autonomy, more favored for law in some states, and the right to vote. Men recognized and appreciated more women’s work and in some places women won more freedom and independence. The ideology of Republican Motherhood and the reforms of education allowed women also to move to different spheres and offered them new opportunities of expansionism for their political, economic, and social movements. However, not everyone was able to accept these changes and during the post revolutionary era they were only little changes in a very slow pace.

Section B

4. Rush’s views limits women’s education however he suggests to educate women in geography, bookkeeping, reading, and arithmetic to make them better wives and mothers. While men were able to take advanced mathematics, natural philosophy, or Latin or Greek classes. Furthermore, he emphasizes his dislike for women not to be educated in science and his strong conviction in women’s subordination. In the other hand, Murray’s fundamental propose was men’s and women’s mental and spiritual equality based in women’s capabilities and needs. She also contemplates the themes of liberty, equality and independence as in her own words.

5. Rush and Murray proposed a higher education for women that will lead to teach their children and prepare them for their duties as citizens, to make their homes run more efficiently, to be more knowledgeable in different subjects to be discussed with their husbands, and understand better family finance.

~Xochitl