The Female Reader

Lucretia Mott ...was one assertion Lucretia Mott used to counter the Reverend Henry Grew's arguments that the Bible proved men were naturally superior to women at the National Women's Rights convention in 1854. Mott was fond of using scripture as a means of exemplifying women's equality in rights to man, as is discussed in the following essay, published on this day in 1849. Reading time: 30 minutes Discourse On Woman December 17, 1849 There is nothing of greater importance to the well-being of society at large —of man as well as woman—than the true and proper position of woman. Much has been said, from time to time, upon this subject. It has been a theme for ridicule, for satire and sarcasm. We might look for this from the ignorant and vulgar; but from the intelligent and refined we have a right to expect that such weapons shall not be resorted to,—that gross comparisons and vulgar epithets shall not be applied, so as to place woman, in a point of view, ridicu...

Mary Ann Müller Mary Ann Müller wrote articles for the Nelson Examiner under the pseudonym "Fémmina", primarily because her husband, a local politician, objected to her views. As Fémmina, she wrote the first pamphlet on women's suffrage in New Zealand in 1869:  An appeal to the men of New Zealand, which forms the basis of today's reading. Her principle argument was the necessity for women to have the vote in order to contribute fully to the development of the country. Reading time: 17 minutes An appeal to the men of New Zealand by Fémmina (Mary Ann Müller) A wise ancient declared that the most perfect popular government was that 'where an injury done to the meanest subject is an insult upon the whole constitution'. What, therefore, can be said for a Government that deliberately inflicts injury upon a great mass of its intelligent and respectable subjects; that virtually ignores their existence in all that can contribute to their happines...

Harriet Martineau, by Richard Evans In her 1837 essay, Women , Martineau presents that both the sexes are ignorant of the social injustices suffered by women, which in turn causes the female sex to be deficit in their morality. Often considered the first female sociologist, Martineau was able to earn enough to support herself through her writings and translations: a rare feat for a woman living in the Victorian era! Though Martineau's essay was written almost 200 years ago, there are still certain passages which ring true in society's treatment of women today, particularly when we consider the treatment of women who speak out against injustice towards their sex and consider that certain members of society "want the magnanimity to discern woman’s human rights; and they crush her morals rather than allow them." Reading time: 15 minutes Woman (1837) If a test of civilisation be sought, none can be so sure as the condition of that half of society over which t...