Summary Of The Declaration Of Sentiment

“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal” - Elizabeth Cady Stanton. In the Declaration of Sentiments, a document signed in 1848 for women’s rights, Stanton said these words. The document is replicated after the Declaration of Independence. In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men created equal.” Stanton pointed out that the concept focuses on men and only men (Mazzotta). This convention happened 170 years ago. Since then, women have gained the right to vote, the right to fight in the front line, the right to have their own voice. So, after all these years have passed, are we finally equal? It’s safe to say that men and women are not equal; but neither is completely above the other.
We as humans would like to believe that men and women are created equal, but in reality, we are anything but. Some of these inequalities have been ingrained in our brains since birth and we do not even realize how wrong it is. For example, men are taught to lead and women are taught to follow. That is to say, that most little boys are taught that their jobs as a man is to
That leads us to wonder what kind of sexism women would face. “Researchers have distinguished between two forms of sexism: hostile and benevolent. Whereas hostile sexism is more obviously negative, benevolent sexism is often disguised as positive, portraying women as needing and deserving greater care and protection” (Trobaugh). Even though benevolent sexism is more positive, it is still bad because it allows for men to look at women as lesser and weaker. The male soldiers are fearful of “lowered physical standards, increased sexual assault and harassment, reduced readiness, and destruction of the masculine culture of brotherhood” (Trobaugh). The men aren’t upset about women being in the military, they’re worried about seeing the standards being