Women activism, 1700-1877 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Women activism, 1700-1877 - Research Paper Example Since inception of the 20th century, social perception regarding rights and status of women has undergone huge change compared to the conventional situation. While modernist intellectual development has considerable impact in radicalizing such improvement, however, women, in order to protect their rights, liberty and equal status in social context as that of their male counterparts, have become more organized. Feminism, in the modern socio-political and philosophical domain has been provided with special attention from every discipline of sociological studies. However, there is no denial that in order to evaluate the position of feminism as a poignant socio-political and philosophical discipline it is also important to acknowledge the history of women activism as well as the gradual process of development of the movement that was gradually germinating since late 16th century. Compared to the recent situation of women in civilized world they were tremendously challenged and consequent ly oppressed in the context of â€Å"expressing themselves in a patriarchal system that generally refused to grant merit to women's views.†1 One of the greatest feminist thinkers of all time, Simone de Beauvoir, in her essay â€Å"The Second Sex,† while attempted to evaluate the position of women in traditional patriarchal system said that a woman in terms of patriarchal judgment is nothing but a womb, a mere organism for child production2. She also has specified that every time women have proved their existence as equal to their male counterparts in terms of merit and capacity of accomplishment the same system has declared that â€Å"they are not women, although they are equipped with a uterus like the rest.†3 It is clear from these observations that women in hands of the traditional social patriarchy are considered as mere instruments of sensuality, objects of attaining physical pleasure, organic manifestation of sensuality and above all they are regarded as o rganisms without individual identity and human entity. The patriarchy has always denied acknowledging the humane attributes of a woman. The male dominated social system always faced difficulty to share its monopolistic position with female counterparts and by denying humane attributes or entity of women they actually aimed at oppressing women for its selfish benefits. Thus, in order to revolt against the established system and secure their rights, social protection and equality the women activists provided highest importance on initiating a moral revolution through cultural and political domain of the 17th and 18th century. The women activists clearly realized that only a prolonged, sincere, and committed mode of protest against the established set up would help them to attain their goals and impression of the same conviction can be received from writing of one of the most eminent women activists of all time, Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902): â€Å"We cannot bring about a moral r evolution in a day or year †¦. Now that I have two daughters, I feel fresh strength to work. It is not in vain that in myself I have experienced all the wearisome cares to which woman in her best estate is subject.†4 Thesis Statement: The manifestation and magnitude of women activism as it is experienced throughout the globe has it root deep in the history of women activism during early 17th to late 18th century. The participants in activism emphasized mainly on â€Å"recognition of the relationship between the private realm of home and family and larger system of public power†5 in order to introduce the desired moral revolution both on cultural and political grounds so that protection for women rights, social equality and recognition as equal human entities as that of their male counte