Fighting for Our Rights

For centuries women have been fighting for equal rights. Fighting to be heard; fighting for a public voice. It wasn't until August 26, 1920 that women finally gained suffrage.

It wasn't until the 1800's that the women of American began to truly fight for their rights. On her deathbed, Mary Walker Ostram said, "Don't be afraid, not afraid, fight Satan; stand up for Christ; don't be afraid." Ostram began her fight for women's rights during the Second Great Awakening when the spiritual activities of the church became the responsibility for the women. During this time, they found a "sphere of influence" in numerous areas of their family life that they didn't have before.

In 1834 women in New York founded the Female Moral Reform Society. The goal of this society was to end prostitution and moral corruption of women all over the country. Not only did they demand chastity for women of their group, but also for men. This society soon had members in the North and the Midwest and founded homes across the country for prostitutes.

Angelina and Sarah Grimke were sisters who supported abolition and women's suffrage. These women became antislavery lecturers, to the disappointment of Congregationalist clergymen, and often used the Bible to support their lectures about abolition and suffrage. "Men and women are created equal. They are both moral and accountable beings and whatever is right for man to do is right for women," wrote Sarah Grimke.

Susan B. Anthony was one of the few women of the 1800's who had the opportunity to attend school alongside her brothers. She was born into a Quaker family in Philadelphia and her father believed in equal treatment of genders. Her family supported the temperance movement and also the anti-slavery movement. During the Women's Rights Convention held in Seneca Falls, Susan, along with her family, signed the "Declaration of Sentiments." In her adult life, Susan continued to be an advocate of women's rights. She wrote the Susan B. Anthony Amendment that became the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution and gave women the right to vote. She led the only non-violent revolution in our country. Susan B. Anthony led women to freedom.

Women's rights advocates like Susan are still needed around the globe. In places like Africa and in the Middle East, women are fighting for their equality. They are often mistreated and abused by the men of their society. We need to stand up for those women and fight for those who can't fight for themselves.

In the words of Susan B. Anthony: "Nothing is impossible."

Galatians 3:28 says, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."