History

During the 19th century, women in America were considered second class citizens. They were looked down upon by men, both physically and intellectually. Although they lived in a free country, women often were confined within their own homes. Women were stereotyped as being weak, delicate and frail and any type of “unconventional work” was deemed hazardous for them. A woman’s main responsibility in life was to be subordinate to her husband and maintain the duties of the home. Women’s rights, as one could imagine, were almost nonexistent. They could not own property, maintain their wages, sign contracts, hold political offices or vote. However through the turmoil of the Women’s Movement, new leaders began to emerge. After reading Ida B. Wells “The Southern Horrors" one sees the effect that her words had on shaping our country during the critical time of reconstruction. Slavery no longer existed in the south and African Americans were supposed to be equal citizens. However, they faced one of the cruelest practices any race has faced in America. Lynching and mob violence came into practice by white southerners after slavery had ended. Wells picked up her pen and began to show the world the true southern horrors that she and her people faced every day. The main justification for mob violence and lynching was to protect the white women 's virtue. If they had any suspicion to believe that an African American man was with a white woman, they would not hesitate to lynch them or carry out violent mob action against them. “The miscegenation laws of the South only operate against the legitimate union of the races; they leave the white man free to seduce all the colored girls he can, but it is death to the colored man who yields to the force and advances of a similar attraction in white women. White men lynch the offending Afro-American, not because he is a despoiler of virtue, but because he succumbs to the smiles of white women.” [1] According to Wells, the

Cited: [1] Ida B. Wells, The Southern Horrors, as quoted in Andre Nguyen, Women Who Help Shaped America. Essay (Fall 2013) [2] Zitkala-Sa, American Indian Stories, as quoted in Andre Nguyen, Women Who Help Shaped America. Essay (Fall 2013) [3] Mary Antin, The Promised Land, as quoted in Andre Nguyen, Women Who Help Shaped America. Essay (Fall 2013) ibid, [4] [5] Margaret Sanger, Women and the New Race, as quoted in Andre Nguyen, Women Who Help Shaped America. Essay (Fall 2013) ibid, [6] [7] Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Solitude of Self, as quoted in Andre Nguyen, Women Who Help Shaped America. Essay (Fall 2013) [8] National Organization of Women Statement of Purpose, as quoted in Andre Nguyen, Women Who Help Shaped America. Essay (Fall 2013)