Life and writings of Amelia BloomerBloomer, D. C. (Dexter C.)
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Life and writings of Amelia Bloomer
Bloomer, D. C. (Dexter C.)
Bloomer, Amelia Jenks, 1818-1894; Women's rights -- United States
This objection, like many others we hear, is too absurd to emanate
from the brains of intelligent men, and I cannot think they
seriously entertain the views they express. But give us a voice
in the matter, gentlemen, and we will not only save ourselves
from being sent to the battlefield, but will if possible keep you
at home with us by averting the difficulties and dangers, and
so compromising matters with foreign powers that peace shall be
maintained and bloodshed avoided.
In justification of the exclusion of woman from a voice in the
government we are told that she is already represented by her
fathers, husbands and sons. To this I might answer, so were our
fathers represented in the parliament of King George. But were they
satisfied with such representation? And why not? Because their
interests were not well cared for; because justice was not done
them. They found they could not safely entrust their interests
to the keeping of those who could not or would not understand
them, and who legislated principally to promote their own selfish
purposes. I wholly deny the position of these objectors. It is
not possible for one human being to fully represent the wants and
wishes of another, and much less can one class fully understand
the desires and meet the requirements of a different class in
society. And, especially, is this true as between man and woman.
In the former, certain mental faculties as a general thing are
said to predominate; while in the latter, the moral attain to a
greater degree of perfection. Taken together, they make up what we
understand by the generic term _man_. If we allow to the former,
only, a full degree of development of their common nature one-half
only enjoys the freedom of action designed for both. We then have
the man, or male element, fully brought out; while the woman, or
female element, is excluded and crushed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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