Introduction
Catharine Beecher’s “An Appeal to American Women” is a discussion kind of piece that considers the power of women in office and how the issue should be approached. During this time, 1869, in America, women were slowly gaining the right to vote by state, but there was not yet a nationwide law (which would pass in 1920 in the Nineteenth Amendment) for women to vote. The excerpt from this article basically says that women should not spend considerable effort fighting to get into the office to represent women and women’s rights. This, Beecher says, is too much of an offensive mentality that would only cause more problems from the fighting process itself.
Beecher rather says that a set of principles, moral standards, or general perspective towards equality and a way of life should instead be considered. If this could be accomplished, then it would not matter who was in office. A mentality or set of principles towards equality or “a united petition of our sex, or even to a majority of the wise and the good” (Beecher p.343).
Beecher also introduced the American Women’s Education Association at the end of the excerpt. While Beecher calls for an educational process that involves the public, we must wonder, is calling for such a change of public perspective really less chaotic and controversial than women actively pursuing to modify legislation? Beecher’s entire rationalization for catering to a general mentality of equality rather than attempting to alter legislation was for the sake of avoiding conflict and controversy. However, a large-scale plan to actively attempt to modify the public opinion, even though the medium of education, would likely be on a similar level of conflict, controversy, and debate. While Beecher’s methodologies for equality through peace are admirable, it would seem she sacrificed the strength of her stance in an attempt for an increased level of tranquillity through another methodology that would still cause a significant level of debate within the public.
Analysis
Many things could be explained, mostly only with regard to background theory and related circumstances. Overall the text is not very confusing, even as an excerpt, and since no quantitative information is given, it does not require additional substantiation. There were no figures either, only concepts. More background information could have been given, and this would have provided for a better understanding of the changes Beecher was trying to describe.
It is likely, however, that the full document did have at least some additional background information. The full extent of the surrounding history and immediate issues in politics were likely not included while considered to be common knowledge to the audience at the time. Beecher likely assumed that the reader, should they be choosing to read the article, already has concerns and thus is aware of the issues immediately surrounding feminism. This information is all theoretical and opinion, so while it is not as subject to accuracy as information that is comprised of statements, assertions, and claimed facts or statistics, the opinion could still be considered valid or not in some regards.
Beecher’s stance on women’s rights is, in fact, one that stresses equality as she claims (she is not trying to seek more power for women, and thus not actively seeking true equality) while her means to equality is sensible. She claims that campaigning and effectively fighting for women’s representation may, in fact, provide women with the means to make changes that would allow for equality; however, the fight itself to make the achievement in such a manner in that sense would likely create additional problems or give life to a stronger sense of competitiveness which would only strengthen or maintain notions of segregation.
Beecher does not take a stance that is wholly against women being in the office; however, at the time she wrote the article, such an occurrence could not have taken place with any ease. Beecher claims instead that women should simply strive for a mentality that caters to equality that is adopted by a majority of people, which would eventually include or affect male politicians. Beecher says that it is this methodology that would be most effective. With regards to accuracy, this opinion is logical and persuasive. It does not appear that anything is inaccurate though Beecher’s claims nor even illogical in her opinion. As all of her content was either conceptual or opinion, Beecher did not rely on any kind of secondary material.
There was no specific event that Beecher was writing with regards to. It would be another 50 years before women’s rights became part of the U.S. Constitution. Beecher was writing for the entire gender of women, for the concept of equality, and for her American Woman’s Education Association. She wanted the general public to read her essay, likely even men. Naturally, she wanted the women to read it so that they would consider becoming part of her group effort, or at least consider her opinions. Whether or not women joined her group, through reading the paper, they would understand her viewpoint and perhaps not support the fight for women to attempt to take office.
As Beecher’s paper is generally informative in this manner, it is likely that she would have wished even for men to read her paper. While her effort was one of such a large scale, she likely would have wanted anyone who would take care to be informed to do so. However, it can be assumed that her focus was mostly on women. While women make up such a large portion of the public, and Beecher would have wished for men to read her work, all the same, to aid in the creation of a general mentality for equality rather than an offensive women’s rights movement, it is better said that her writing was more for the general public than it was for a specialized audience.
The spirit in which Beecher writes is unique because it is a combination of a call to action and peace at the same time. Beecher wants action, education, and change, all the while stressing the importance of peace, shared mentalities, and lack of an offensive position. Beecher’s spirit is one of benevolence, enlightenment, and optimism. She is not in a position of despair, while she apparently has enough faith in the human mind to patiently wait for the opportunities for the right course of action rather than take any available action towards the changes she describes.
Conclusion
The document did have some influence on people. Beecher is a commonly known famous figure who thus had a significant reach, while nearly all feminist or equality writers had some influence before women’s rights were integrated into the constitution because it was such a serious issue. Finally, 50 years later, women did gain the right to vote, and it was this that allowed for an equal mentality. Beecher’s mentality took effect to some degree, and later women would go into some offices as well. While it cannot be argued that Beecher’s writing, nor another other writer’s writing, was responsible for the movement toward women’s rights, Beecher’s essay did have an impact on the education and awareness movements that would cater to the eventual acceptance of women’s rights. Obviously, the influence for women’s rights was naturally inspired by a mentality of equality.
References
Beecher, Catherine. “An Appeal to American Women.” The American Woman’s Home. London: Rutgers University Press, 2002 [1869]. p.343.