Letters on the equality of the sexes, and the condition of womanGrimké, Sarah
Religion
Letters on the equality of the sexes, and the condition of woman
Grimké, Sarah
Women -- History; Women -- United States; Women's rights -- United States
Other instances might be adduced to prove that there is no natural
inferiority in woman. Not that I approve of woman’s holding the reins
of government over man. I maintain that they are equal, and that God
never invested fallen man with unlimited power over his fellow man;
and I rejoice that circumstances have prevented woman from being more
deeply involved in the guilt which appears to be inseparable from
political affairs. The few instances which I have mentioned prove
that intellect is not sexed; and doubtless if woman had not almost
universally been depressed and degraded, the page of history would have
exhibited as many eminent statesmen and politicians among women as
men. We are much in the situation of the slave. Man has asserted and
assumed authority over us. He has, by virtue of his power, deprived
us of the advantages of improvement which he has lavishly bestowed
upon himself, and then, after having done all he can to take from
us the means of proving our equality, and our capability of mental
cultivation, he throws upon us the burden of proof that God created man
and woman equal, and endowed them, without any reference to sex, with
intelligence and responsibilities, as rational and accountable beings.
Hence in Hindostan, even women of the higher classes are forbidden to
read or write; because the Hindoos think it would inevitably spoil them
for domestic life, and assuredly bring some great misfortune upon them.
May we not trace to the same feeling, the disadvantages under which
women labor even in this country, for want of an education, which would
call into exercise the powers of her mind, and fortify her soul with
those great moral principles by which she would be qualified to fill
_every_ department in _social_, _domestic_ and _religious_ life with
dignity?
In Hindostan, the evidence of women is not received in a court of
justice.
In Burmah, their testimony is not deemed equal to that of a man, and
they are not allowed to ascend the steps of a court of justice, but are
obliged to give their testimony outside of the building.
In Siberia, women are not allowed to step across the foot-prints of
men, or reindeer; they are not allowed to eat with men, or to partake
of particular dainties. Among many tribes, they seem to be regarded as
impure, unholy beings.
‘The Mohammedan law forbids pigs, dogs, women and other impure animals
to enter a mosque; and the hour of prayers must not be proclaimed by a
female, a madman, a drunkard, or a decrepit person.’
Here I am reminded of the resemblance between the situation of women in
heathen and Mohammedan countries, and our brethren and sisters of color
in this Christian land, where they are despised and cast out as though
they were unclean. And on precisely the same ground, because they are
said to be inferior.
The treatment of women as wives is almost uniformly the same in all
heathen countries.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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