Suffragists and Feminism

Prior to reading any Suffragist literature, I made the false assumption that all of the speeches and declarations made by some of history’s most outspoken and intelligent women would focus solely on making desperate pleas for voting rights. However, upon delving deeper into the material, it quickly became apparent that the Suffragist struggle went way beyond the simple desire to vote. It seems to me as though, more than anything, these women just wanted to be acknowledged and respected for their societal contributions. Elizabeth Cady Stanton described in her address to the legislature of New York that women had made great strides in funding charities, schools, and churches. They created missions, educated society’s youth, and even made new discoveries. Why then couldn’t they receive any of the wealth or honor that was owed to them?

It makes me wonder even now how much has changed since the 19th century. Do the women of today receive the full respect of their peers that they so deserve for their many accomplishments? I think in a lot of ways we have made great strides in asserting our status, yet somehow I feel like the woman's presence could be more visible in some areas of society and her efforts more widely acknowledged.