1848
The history of mankind is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations on
the part of man toward woman, having in direct object the establishment of an
absolute tyranny over her.
He has compelled her to submit to laws, in the formation of which she had no
voice.
He has made her, if married, in the eye of the law, civilly dead.
He has taken from her all right in property, even to the wages she earns...
In the covenant of marriage, she is compelled to promise her obedience to her
husband, he becoming, to all intents and purposes, her master - the law giving
him power to deprive her of her liberty and to administer chastisement.
He has so framed the laws of divorce, as to what shall be the proper causes of
divorce; in case of separation, to whom the guardianship of the children shall
be given; as to be wholly regardless of the happiness of women -
the law, in all
cases, going upon the false supposition of the supremacy of man, and
giving all power into his hands.
He has monopolized nearly all the profitable employments, and from those she is
permitted to follow, she receives but a scanty remuneration...
He has created a false public sentiment, by giving to the world a different code
of morals for men and women, by which moral delinquencies which exclude women
from society, are not only tolerated but deemed of little account in man.
He has usurped the prerogative of Jehovah himself, claiming it as his right to
assign for her a sphere of action, when that belongs to he conscience and her
God. He has endeavored, in every way that he could to destroy her
confidence in her own powers, to lessen her self-respect, and to make her
willing to lead a dependant and abject life.
(Shameless)