Introducing Feminism: A Graphic Guide (Graphic Guides)

by Cathia Jenainati

Essentialism sees men as able to think logically, abstractly and analytically, while women are mainly emotional, compassionate and nurturing creatures.

Women had no formal rights and were not represented in the law. Even if some women were able to receive a higher education, they were not allowed to receive the degree for which they studied. In marriage, the woman’s body belonged to her husband, who was also the only legal guardian of the children.

Early Modern feminist activity aimed at challenging the prevalent social view that women are weak and irrational creatures who should be controlled by men. There were a number of political events which supported such efforts, in particular Queen Elizabeth I’s accession to the throne in 1558 and her long and successful reign as a single female.

Within the family, Quakers did not differentiate between the social roles of men and women. As a result, many female Friends were highly educated and played prominent roles in politics and education. Quaker women would travel unaccompanied, contribute to Church administration and preach to mixed audiences.

She advocated abolition, universal education, birth control and equal rights for women.

“whilst you are proclaiming peace and good will to men, emancipating all nations, you insist upon retaining absolute power over your wives. But you must remember that arbitrary power is most like other things which are very hard, very liable to be broken.”

Abigail Adams was not the only female voice warning against the dangers of perpetuating social and legal discrimination against women. In 1792, the English writer Mary Wollstonecraft (1759–97), who was influenced by the ideas of the American and French Revolutions, called for the full participation of women in the rights and duties of citizenship.