Response to Feminism Old Wave and New Wave and the Declaration of Sentiments

One of the most fascinating aspects of the three readings assigned for tomorrow's class is in the Declaration of Sentiments, when marriage and divorce rights are discussed.  The document states that upon marriage, a woman must be obedient and faithful to her husband.  This type of rhetoric was not as surprising to me, given the time period, as the claim that he becomes her master, "the law giving him power to deprive her of her liberty, and to administer chastisement."  This description of a marriage shows stark differences between the woman's role during the first feminist wave and the second.  In the Feminine Mystique, Friedan describes a marriage as a domestic partnership where decision-making processes and power are shared equally. Despite this increase in power during the new wave, women still felt the deprivation, depression, repression, dissatisfaction, and desperation expressed by the authors of the Declaration of Sentiments.  Elevated rank within the marriage cannot enhance a woman's contentment with her status; only federal legislation and societal acceptance has the potential to allow for true changes in equality, respect, and freedom. Additionally, this Declaration points out that marriage makes women morally irresponsible, by allowing her to commit wrongs and be immune to punishment, as long as they are done in the presence and with the approval of her husband. Men are granted their own jurisdiction, with the authority to absolve their wives of wrongdoings for all matters he supports and possible encourages.

Dubois' description of how both feminist waves came to realize the institutional sexism in place was also very though provoking: "First, we began to understand that women were oppressed, throughout our society, and that the oppression of women had crept into even the most radical political movements of the day. Then were started to raise questions about the oppression of women and the "proper spheres" (19th century) or "stereotyped roles" (20th century) of men and women." In both cases, it was the involvement in political movements claiming to advocate citizen equality that highlighted the deep-rooted sexism amongst even the radical, enlightened members. As stated by Echols, the men seemed so eager to do penance for racism, or at least, but insisted on ignoring and fighting women's efforts to address gender inequality.


Sojourner Truth's speech, her insistence that she is just as strong and capable as men, reminded me of Susan Douglas' discussion in the introduction of her book.  Shows like Survivor, the Amazing Race, Fear Factor and even MTV's Real World are all focused on presenting both men and women with an equally disturbing or difficult challenge.  From what I remember, both men and women were required to eat a pig's testicles, face a red ant attack, and conquer physical strength challanges, all for the sake of entertainment and without any gender distinctions. Like Douglas said, the media may be presenting an optimistic view of women's equality, but some of the challenges have proven time and again what Sojourner claimed, and with a much larger audience than she had at the time. Maybe reality/dare/stunt shows specifically have the best chance of demonstrating women's strength to the widest, youngest, most pliable audience.