Follow Up--responding to Lindsey for 1/28 class

Although Lindsay says that the Declaration of Sentiments was mainly focused on women's suffrage, I still believe that many of the sentiments listed are still relevant today. In particular is the statement "He has created a false public sentiment...a different code of morals for men and women, by which moral delinquinces which exclude women from society, are not only tolerated, but deemed of little account of man." Despite the fact that raunch culture is quite prominent, a moral double standard still exists today; in fact, I believe it is actually getting worse! Its like what Levy said: "either you are a virgin or you are a slut." Men sleep with multiple women and are praised, called players, cheered on by their peers, and are often more desirable to women . Women who sleep with men are considered sluts by both male and female peers--this calls back to Lindsey's statement that today "women are oppressing women." What has happened to the strong sisterhood of the first and second waves of feminism. Today, women call other women sluts, women sexually exploit other women, women feel the need to be competitive and catty. Today, we are dealing with female chauvinist pigs, not just male.

Another statement I found interesting in the Declaration of Sentiments is: "Whenever any form of government becomes destructive...it is the right of those who suffer...to insist upon the institution of a new government."--this I believe is the belief of Radical Feminists who, unlike liberal feminists (Betty Friedan) who hope to get things done by forming an already existing political system, believe that the solution is to overhall society as a whole. Whether this theory works or not is another issue.

DuBois's article was also interesting: despite the radical (at the time) notion of abolition in the first wave, and the radical notion (at the time) of civil rights and anti war rallies, these movements were still too conservative to allow women. So although the women's movement has sprung from moments of opportunity like the Civil War, Civil Rights Movement, and Vietnam War, women had to take their rights into their own hands. Although this may have caused tension, I believe that focusing on themselves was the only effective way to get recognized.

And to briefly address Soujourner Truth's speech--is it true that she revealed her breasts? Cause that is an interesting point Lindsey makes...

- Regan