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Post by alsomsknit on Nov 9, 2018 3:36:26 GMT
Okay but...these people sitting in the pews have brains. Do they really believe that? He could just as easily say it's a sin to eat chocolate but that doesn't make it true. And I'd wager people would eat it anyway if he did say it. So where's the disconnect? Religion is - and I'm sure I'll offend some people I don't want to offend, so apologies - about mind control in many cases. Not all cases. Even more so when you've been taught that preachers, priests or prophets are set above you to interpret God's word for you and teach you how to follow it in your own life, so you just turn off the critical thinking part of your brain when the man at the pulpit is talking. Tying your eternal salvation to certain behaviors is very motivating. It is interesting and hopeful to me that it seems some religious women are stepping away from that mindset and voting their own beliefs. We saw that in Tarrant County and the west/southwest Houston suburbs. Yes! I can’t remember the exact wording or where it was supposed to be found anymore. It was stressed, “Do not lean upon your own understanding...” I think there was more. It always rankled because I had a brain worth using. |
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Post by chlerbie on Nov 9, 2018 4:59:21 GMT
When I lived in the South, it really was all about being Pro-Life. Even with the Presidential election, I think many Conservative women voted for Trump because of that issue.
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Post by elaine on Nov 9, 2018 5:10:53 GMT
When I lived in the South, it really was all about being Pro-Life. Even with the Presidential election, I think many Conservative women voted for Trump because of that issue. In all sincerity, do you think that they really believe Trump is Pro-Life? That he hasn’t paid for abortions for pregnancies resulting from his numerous affairs/flings? That he wouldn’t do it again without a moment’s hesitation? Or is what he does in his own life unimportant as long as he forces others to do the opposite? |
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Post by 950nancy on Nov 9, 2018 5:31:08 GMT
As an athiest, off the top of my head I'm not sure what issues besides gay rights and women's reproductive rights would be considered religious. I'm sure there must be more but I can't think of them. What am I missing? Women's right vs right to life would be a very big one for many Christian women. |
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Olan
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Post by Olan on Nov 9, 2018 12:12:01 GMT
"By virtue of our value to white men, white women have always had proximity to that white male seat of power. We have slept next to it in bed, walked down the aisle with it, birthed it, nourished it, educated it, packed its lunches, cleaned up its messes, baked for its funerals. Our proximity to that power has, at times, protected us and made us more comfortable. It has also, at times, wounded and abused us. You can argue about whether our proximity to power is a blessing or a curse, but you can’t argue its veracity. We might not have a seat, but we’re at the table. And we, white women, do NOT want to lose our spot."
That article was such a great read. Everyone should read it. Thanks for sharing it
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Olan
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Post by Olan on Nov 9, 2018 12:15:56 GMT
Thank you for sharing this! |
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pyccku
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Post by pyccku on Nov 9, 2018 12:23:37 GMT
We might not have a seat, but we’re at the table. And we, white women, do NOT want to lose our spot. Here's a crazy notion: Run for election. Vote for female candidates, maybe even white female candidates. Stop standing at the table and take your own damn seat. Let the men stand for a while begging us for a few scraps. |
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Post by hop2 on Nov 9, 2018 12:29:46 GMT
As an athiest, off the top of my head I'm not sure what issues besides gay rights and women's reproductive rights would be considered religious. I'm sure there must be more but I can't think of them. What am I missing? It’s not religious Those numbers are not reflecting religion it reflecting panic voting against those ‘other’ people. People they desperately need to see themselves above or better than those ‘others’. Against those people ‘attacking’ our country. Because they believe trump. Against those people stealing the jobs from your children. Because thier special snowflake couldn’t possibly be too entitled and lazy to get & keep a job it ‘those people’ stealing it. It was a panic vote against ‘the angry mobs of leftists’ who tried to derail their SC justice. In many ways this mid term vote has stamped out whatever hope I had in my fellow citizens. |
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Olan
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Post by Olan on Nov 9, 2018 12:35:44 GMT
We might not have a seat, but we’re at the table. And we, white women, do NOT want to lose our spot. Here's a crazy notion: Run for election. Vote for female candidates, maybe even white female candidates. Stop standing at the table and take your own damn seat. Let the men stand for a while begging us for a few scraps. If you need help with that crazy notion, a black woman could really provide some insight. We've had no choice but to assemble tables and take seats. |
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Post by ghislaine on Nov 9, 2018 14:10:40 GMT
We might not have a seat, but we’re at the table. And we, white women, do NOT want to lose our spot. Here's a crazy notion: Run for election. Vote for female candidates, maybe even white female candidates. Stop standing at the table and take your own damn seat. Let the men stand for a while begging us for a few scraps. It's a pendulum swing that has to happen. White men will not accept what is fair to POCs and women until the power balance swings away from them. Their fight to maintain power isn't just in the USA either. Brexit and the rise of similar conservative politics are symptoms of that fight there. |
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Post by sean&marysmommy on Nov 9, 2018 15:55:32 GMT
I read an article the other day, and I will look for it later today, that said that the majority of white women will vote how their husbands vote. Living in the South for most of my life, I will say that I have come across many women for whom this is true. They will passionately declare this or that political belief, and when you try to understand where they're coming from, it's clear they don't really know. They are parroting what their husband, boyfriend, or father says. (I know, this is not always true...but I have come across it a lot.)
And yes, religion. There are a lot of people who look no further than the abortion issue, and that's what they vote on.
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Montannie
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Post by Montannie on Nov 9, 2018 16:32:51 GMT
ghislaine, thanks for the link. Powerful essay.
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casii
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Post by casii on Nov 9, 2018 16:57:43 GMT
I read an article the other day, and I will look for it later today, that said that the majority of white women will vote how their husbands vote. Living in the South for most of my life, I will say that I have come across many women for whom this is true. They will passionately declare this or that political belief, and when you try to understand where they're coming from, it's clear they don't really know. They are parroting what their husband, boyfriend, or father says. (I know, this is not always true...but I have come across it a lot.) And yes, religion. There are a lot of people who look no further than the abortion issue, and that's what they vote on. I'd be interested in that article.
I grew up in the rural South in a religious family, but I moved the MidAtlantic at 19 and never returned. My middle sister also left the South for the North shortly after she finished college. We both are so different in our worldviews from family that remains there. I'm not calling the South bad or ignorant, but I will say that within MY family men feel they are the head ruler and even though they pay lip service to equal but different, they feel superior to women (and I'll easily stretch that into POC and of different religious beliefs). But even as a little kid, I had brains enough to know that the booger eating, bra popping, trying to light their farts on fire boys weren't superior in any way to me.
Middle sis and I, especially me, are viewed as extremist leftists. Mom, younger sis and all other women in my family hold very much to parroting what they are told by men. My youngest sister will often repost a meme my dad posts within seconds.
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Post by sean&marysmommy on Nov 9, 2018 17:26:05 GMT
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anniebygaslight
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Post by anniebygaslight on Nov 9, 2018 18:30:29 GMT
It is mystifying.
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Post by missmcd on Nov 9, 2018 18:33:24 GMT
I, for the life of me, cannot understand why this is still happening.
I'm proud to say that ALL of the white women in my group (family & friends) have always voted Democratic. I want ALL control of my body, my rights, etc. I don't need anyone trying to control what I do with my body. While I pray I never need an abortion I do not see why it is my business if another woman chooses one. How does that effect me?? I don't need any reason, excuse, nothing. Your body, your choice. PERIOD.
(pretending this is even possible) Unless you can take the fetus out of that woman, pay for all her medical bills for that removal, have the fetus placed in your body to carry to term, raise that child for the rest of your life, how the heck can you tell somebody they must carry and raise this child. Seriously though?!?!?
How do women let one issue cloud their judgement on every single other issue? It really makes me sad.
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melissa
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Post by melissa on Nov 9, 2018 18:48:40 GMT
The women I know who consistently vote republican are just as articulate and passionate as those who consistently vote liberal. I don't find this in my area as much. I actually find that the women who consistently vote and support Republicans tend to be the ones who are a bit less educated, more likely to fall for pseudoscience, and less likely to be able to hold an actual conversation with give and take and reasoning. They are more likely to support a single statement as truth no matter what the evidence to the contrary and I am not talking politics. An example would be an anti-vax article I saw posted about a baby that died 48 hours after getting vaccinations. There was simply no ability to discuss the fact that the baby died from anything other than getting vaccinations 48 hours prior. One could say the baby breastfed before sleeping that night so clearly the breast milk killed the baby. Just zero ability to reason. I find that absolutely frightening because this is the sort of person who could and would go along with whatever they are spoonfed by the source they listen to. If Fox News started reporting that Jews are evil and must be killed, they might just believe that. Yes, this is a generalization, but it's what I am seeing among those who are still staunchly supporting politics that are directly against them. The abortion issue really gets me because I've been in the room when someone who was once against abortion at all costs made the decision to have one. |
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Kath
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Post by Kath on Nov 9, 2018 20:43:45 GMT
It’s not just religion.
It’s everywhere in our society that men are better than women. Look at our Hollywood movies with how many men are represented versus how many women and our actresses, the amount of them and the roles they still play despite everything we’ve gone through. Look at how many politicians we have that are men versus women. Look at our CEOs and our top management and what gender they are. Look at our Supreme Court, look at our presidents and how many have been female. Look at our history books. We have allowed history to be written by men.
You can say that it has all been driven by religion originally and I would agree. But we can’t lay the blame squarely at religion now. Secular groups everywhere continue to make men more important than women, people who are not religious and never have been.
It’s not just religion.
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rickmer
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Post by rickmer on Nov 9, 2018 21:01:46 GMT
slightly diverting but STBX was upset with me one year because i voted differently than him at an election. we are not religious, he was always gung-ho for me to work full time and bring in money to the household and would defer to me on my (what i would describe as liberal) views to raise our kids.
his point was "your vote just cancelled out mine".
my reply was "women didn't *get* to vote - there is no way i am giving up my right that those that came before me fought for me to have".
(ps: i will note he would be a "one issue" voter, does not research candidates and their views thoroughly and is someone who reads a headline but not the article. no way was i gonna have his misinformed stance as mine)
(pps: just stopped bothering to tell him who i voted for after that)
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eleezybeth
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Post by eleezybeth on Nov 9, 2018 21:34:05 GMT
I liked that. Thanks for sharing. What I do not understand is why we bash the suffragettes for their piece in this. Why do we place this on their shoulders for not doing enough. No, they did what they could with the beliefs that they held. They left that torch for the next generation to pick up the baton. How so easily we forget what it cost them to get women the right to vote. Perfection? Not at all. But their mission is not ours. They did their part, thank them and move on. We know the history of America. G. Washington is still on the dollar bill and he owned slaves. We have an entire state named after him. We don’t bash him and go all the way back in our history to find him at fault. I suggest that we focus on the mission of our time. And now that we know better we will do better. We will learn and not be catty ass women who cut other women down for not doing everything perfectly while being a mom, a wife and trying to save the MF’ing world. To pretend they live during the time we live is asinine and is not an argument I even understand. It is not their fault the suffragettes didn’t understand intersectionality when it wasn’t even a thing yet? Damn! Why didn’t they solve world hunger too. Lazy bitches. |
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Post by MsChiff on Nov 9, 2018 22:10:01 GMT
It’s not just religion. It’s everywhere in our society that men are better than women. Look at our Hollywood movies with how many men are represented versus how many women and our actresses, the amount of them and the roles they still play despite everything we’ve gone through. Look at how many politicians we have that are men versus women. Look at our CEOs and our top management and what gender they are. Look at our Supreme Court, look at our presidents and how many have been female. Look at our history books. We have allowed history to be written by men. You can say that it has all been driven by religion originally and I would agree. But we can’t lay the blame squarely at religion now. Secular groups everywhere continue to make men more important than women, people who are not religious and never have been. It’s not just religion. I agree. And I would add that advertising constantly promotes the idea that women are less than men. And women constantly promote the idea that females aren't naturally pretty like males. From a very early age females learn that they are not pretty unless they wear makeup. Get their nails done. Wear high heels. Wear the latest fashions. Wear tight or form fitting clothing that accentuates your body. Don't age naturally--color your hair, get botoxed, have surgery to preserve what little beauty you had when you were younger. Can you imagine the number of business that will go broke if women become as self-assured in their natural beauty as men? I'm in a FB group for women letting their hair go naturally gray. Men certainly don't need such a group because a man having gray hair is socially acceptable. And the women in the group get "advice" that they need to start coloring their hair again from other women NOT from men; men are generally supportive of their choice. Men are so much advanced when it comes to these things. Many men I know get along with the same fashions they've been wearing for YEARS and their hair is naturally graying and they are told they are handsome. Let a woman the same age show her grays or wear something from 20 years ago and she's likely to be told she needs to take better care of herself, and you can bet it's most likely a woman telling her that. It's definitely not just religion. |
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Post by MsChiff on Nov 9, 2018 22:15:48 GMT
We might not have a seat, but we’re at the table. And we, white women, do NOT want to lose our spot. Here's a crazy notion: Run for election. Vote for female candidates, maybe even white female candidates. Stop standing at the table and take your own damn seat. Let the men stand for a while begging us for a few scraps. That is crazy. I will no more vote for a candidate because they are a woman than I will vote for a candidate because they are a man. I also don't consider their race, religion or party, all of which are crazy reasons to vote for someone. I claim my seat by educating myself on the candidates and voting for the candidate(s) that best support(s) the issues I believe to be important. |
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Olan
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Post by Olan on Nov 9, 2018 22:31:27 GMT
Here's a crazy notion: Run for election. Vote for female candidates, maybe even white female candidates. Stop standing at the table and take your own damn seat. Let the men stand for a while begging us for a few scraps. That is crazy. I will no more vote for a candidate because they are a woman than I will vote for a candidate because they are a man. I also don't consider their race, religion or party, all of which are crazy reasons to vote for someone. I claim my seat by educating myself on the candidates and voting for the candidate(s) that best support(s) the issues I believe to be important. How is that working out for women though? We do the same work and don't even earn the same pay. There isn't one single piece of legislation that deals with a penis yet how many women have had their lives changed by rape. Why should the leadership roles continue to be giving to white men no matter how shitty and mediocre they keep proving themselves to be. Shouldn't we all see ourselves in representation. Why are you okay with the white male voice being the only one heard in a room? |
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Olan
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Post by Olan on Nov 9, 2018 22:44:26 GMT
I liked that. Thanks for sharing. What I do not understand is why we bash the suffragettes for their piece in this. Why do we place this on their shoulders for not doing enough. No, they did what they could with the beliefs that they held. They left that torch for the next generation to pick up the baton. How so easily we forget what it cost them to get women the right to vote. Perfection? Not at all. But their mission is not ours. They did their part, thank them and move on. We know the history of America. G. Washington is still on the dollar bill and he owned slaves. We have an entire state named after him. We don’t bash him and go all the way back in our history to find him at fault. I suggest that we focus on the mission of our time. And now that we know better we will do better. We will learn and not be catty ass women who cut other women down for not doing everything perfectly while being a mom, a wife and trying to save the MF’ing world. To pretend they live during the time we live is asinine and is not an argument I even understand. It is not their fault the suffragettes didn’t understand intersectionality when it wasn’t even a thing yet? Damn! Why didn’t they solve world hunger too. Lazy bitches. That isn't what I got from the article. "And the only thing white men love more than other white men (show me the lie) is white women. By virtue of our value to white men, white women have always had proximity to that white male seat of power. We have slept next to it in bed, walked down the aisle with it, birthed it, nourished it, educated it, packed its lunches, cleaned up its messes, baked for its funerals. Our proximity to that power has, at times, protected us and made us more comfortable. It has also, at times, wounded and abused us. You can argue about whether our proximity to power is a blessing or a curse, but you can’t argue its veracity. We might not have a seat, but we’re at the table. And we, white women, do NOT want to lose our spot. How did we get that spot at the table? Susan B. Anthony threw freed slaves under the bus to ensure that white women got the vote before black men did. She argued that white women were smarter than black men, that black men were inherently ignorant, violent, and predatory… listen, truth time, Susie B. Tony was a pretty enthusiastic racist, and she was and continues to be a liberal feminist hero. So, there’s that. Plot twist: I’m not sad that Susan B. Anthony spent her adult life fighting for my right to vote. Really not ungrateful for that. Really love voting. Reeeeeeeeeally wish she’d included some of my friends, though." And I disagree with you. I think that restoring humanity to enslaved Africans and giving them the right to vote WAS the work of Susan B Anthony's time and because she didn't do that work white women continue to have an excuse to not do the "work of their time". It's pretty sad to think that a white woman watched her husband rape my ancestor or sell her children, and her shared womanhood didn't cause her to feel any empathy. The same way white women watch us get shot dead by police and think nothing of it. The fact that you turned a blind eye to it then (or participated in it) is why injustice continues. Susan Anthony isn't a hero of mine. I have too many ancestors who did recognize what their role was as women and those women deserve my respect. |
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RosieKat
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Post by RosieKat on Nov 9, 2018 23:08:36 GMT
As an athiest, off the top of my head I'm not sure what issues besides gay rights and women's reproductive rights would be considered religious. Unless these women truly only care about abortion and don't care at all about many other women's issues like equal pay, sexual assault, and birth control. They have simply decided that voting for a candidate who is anti-abortion is more important to them than all other issues combined, not that the other issues are unimportant. As is their right. Yes, I know many many white women whose discussion will begin and end on abortion. I am Catholic, and most of my (volunteer) work is through/with other Catholics. There are definitely three different general mindsets/groups I see within the Church. First, abortion should be avoided but should be legal. Second, abortion should be completely banned. (Some people see it more as elective abortion should be completely banned.) Third, elective abortion is a bad thing, but banning it will not make it cease. Pray and work towards the end of it, but meanwhile, work to fix the other hugely important human rights things that we can fix or at least help with. Among other things, work on putting into place the supports that will help make elective abortion "unnecessary." That second group (ban abortion at all costs) really do look only at that issue - at least, the ones I've had the conversation with. (I try not to discuss politics too much with the people I have to work with, just to maintain sanity.) The Church has actually issued several statements making it clear that we should not vote solely on the basis of one single issue, which I find interesting. |
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RosieKat
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Post by RosieKat on Nov 9, 2018 23:11:48 GMT
In all sincerity, do you think that they really believe Trump is Pro-Life? That he hasn’t paid for abortions for pregnancies resulting from his numerous affairs/flings? That he wouldn’t do it again without a moment’s hesitation? Or is what he does in his own life unimportant as long as he forces others to do the opposite? I've never gotten anyone to give me a straight answer on this.  |
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Post by dewryce on Nov 10, 2018 0:08:59 GMT
As an athiest, off the top of my head I'm not sure what issues besides gay rights and women's reproductive rights would be considered religious. Unless these women truly only care about abortion and don't care at all about many other women's issues like equal pay, sexual assault, and birth control. They have simply decided that voting for a candidate who is anti-abortion is more important to them than all other issues combined, not that the other issues are unimportant. As is their right. Yes, I know many many white women whose discussion will begin and end on abortion. I am Catholic, and most of my (volunteer) work is through/with other Catholics. There are definitely three different general mindsets/groups I see within the Church. First, abortion should be avoided but should be legal. Second, abortion should be completely banned. (Some people see it more as elective abortion should be completely banned.) Third, elective abortion is a bad thing, but banning it will not make it cease. Pray and work towards the end of it, but meanwhile, work to fix the other hugely important human rights things that we can fix or at least help with. Among other things, work on putting into place the supports that will help make elective abortion "unnecessary." That second group (ban abortion at all costs) really do look only at that issue - at least, the ones I've had the conversation with. (I try not to discuss politics too much with the people I have to work with, just to maintain sanity.) The Church has actually issued several statements making it clear that we should not vote solely on the basis of one single issue, which I find interesting. That gives me hope. Thanks for sharing your experiences  |
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eleezybeth
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Post by eleezybeth on Nov 10, 2018 0:52:14 GMT
I liked that. Thanks for sharing. What I do not understand is why we bash the suffragettes for their piece in this. Why do we place this on their shoulders for not doing enough. No, they did what they could with the beliefs that they held. They left that torch for the next generation to pick up the baton. How so easily we forget what it cost them to get women the right to vote. Perfection? Not at all. But their mission is not ours. They did their part, thank them and move on. We know the history of America. G. Washington is still on the dollar bill and he owned slaves. We have an entire state named after him. We don’t bash him and go all the way back in our history to find him at fault. I suggest that we focus on the mission of our time. And now that we know better we will do better. We will learn and not be catty ass women who cut other women down for not doing everything perfectly while being a mom, a wife and trying to save the MF’ing world. To pretend they live during the time we live is asinine and is not an argument I even understand. It is not their fault the suffragettes didn’t understand intersectionality when it wasn’t even a thing yet? Damn! Why didn’t they solve world hunger too. Lazy bitches. That isn't what I got from the article. "And the only thing white men love more than other white men (show me the lie) is white women. By virtue of our value to white men, white women have always had proximity to that white male seat of power. We have slept next to it in bed, walked down the aisle with it, birthed it, nourished it, educated it, packed its lunches, cleaned up its messes, baked for its funerals. Our proximity to that power has, at times, protected us and made us more comfortable. It has also, at times, wounded and abused us. You can argue about whether our proximity to power is a blessing or a curse, but you can’t argue its veracity. We might not have a seat, but we’re at the table. And we, white women, do NOT want to lose our spot. How did we get that spot at the table? Susan B. Anthony threw freed slaves under the bus to ensure that white women got the vote before black men did. She argued that white women were smarter than black men, that black men were inherently ignorant, violent, and predatory… listen, truth time, Susie B. Tony was a pretty enthusiastic racist, and she was and continues to be a liberal feminist hero. So, there’s that. Plot twist: I’m not sad that Susan B. Anthony spent her adult life fighting for my right to vote. Really not ungrateful for that. Really love voting. Reeeeeeeeeally wish she’d included some of my friends, though." And I disagree with you. I think that restoring humanity to enslaved Africans and giving them the right to vote WAS the work of Susan B Anthony's time and because she didn't do that work white women continue to have an excuse to not do the "work of their time". It's pretty sad to think that a white woman watched her husband rape my ancestor or sell her children, and her shared womanhood didn't cause her to feel any empathy. The same way white women watch us get shot dead by police and think nothing of it. The fact that you turned a blind eye to it then (or participated in it) is why injustice continues. Susan Anthony isn't a hero of mine. I have too many ancestors who did recognize what their role was as women and those women deserve my respect. Fair enough. But what if they had done nothing? Would that have had any impact on you or your future? |
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ellen
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Post by ellen on Nov 10, 2018 1:14:48 GMT
I just don't understand it, but I'm from Minnesota. If Stacy Abrams or Andrew Gillum were running here, they'd be elected. Beto O'Rourke would win easily.
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Olan
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Post by Olan on Nov 10, 2018 4:26:52 GMT
That isn't what I got from the article. "And the only thing white men love more than other white men (show me the lie) is white women. By virtue of our value to white men, white women have always had proximity to that white male seat of power. We have slept next to it in bed, walked down the aisle with it, birthed it, nourished it, educated it, packed its lunches, cleaned up its messes, baked for its funerals. Our proximity to that power has, at times, protected us and made us more comfortable. It has also, at times, wounded and abused us. You can argue about whether our proximity to power is a blessing or a curse, but you can’t argue its veracity. We might not have a seat, but we’re at the table. And we, white women, do NOT want to lose our spot. How did we get that spot at the table? Susan B. Anthony threw freed slaves under the bus to ensure that white women got the vote before black men did. She argued that white women were smarter than black men, that black men were inherently ignorant, violent, and predatory… listen, truth time, Susie B. Tony was a pretty enthusiastic racist, and she was and continues to be a liberal feminist hero. So, there’s that. Plot twist: I’m not sad that Susan B. Anthony spent her adult life fighting for my right to vote. Really not ungrateful for that. Really love voting. Reeeeeeeeeally wish she’d included some of my friends, though." And I disagree with you. I think that restoring humanity to enslaved Africans and giving them the right to vote WAS the work of Susan B Anthony's time and because she didn't do that work white women continue to have an excuse to not do the "work of their time". It's pretty sad to think that a white woman watched her husband rape my ancestor or sell her children, and her shared womanhood didn't cause her to feel any empathy. The same way white women watch us get shot dead by police and think nothing of it. The fact that you turned a blind eye to it then (or participated in it) is why injustice continues. Susan Anthony isn't a hero of mine. I have too many ancestors who did recognize what their role was as women and those women deserve my respect. Fair enough. But what if they had done nothing? Would that have had any impact on you or your future? If Susan B Anthony hadn't decided to spread the misinformation that black men are ignorant, violent, and less than human so she could secure the right to vote for white women, how would that have impacted my life as a black woman? I've never given it any thought. If I use your logic another generation would have picked back up where humanity left off and could have done a more inclusive job. No? Not because the phrase intersectional feminism had been coined but because they were just ready to be better people that decade. Enslaving and mistreating another human being and then lying about their character so you can deny them basic rights shouldn't be so easily glossed over. After giving it some thought I am pretty sure I'd be better off had Susan B Anthony taken a seat in a corner and handed the mic to Sojourner Truth or Ida B. Wells or Anna Julia Cooper or Mary Church Terrell. There were hundreds of black women advocating for my right to vote. www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/mary-church-terrell" But many white suffragists didn’t advocate for the ending of lynching because protecting white women’s virtue was often the excuse used to justify the brutal act. In the white imagination, black men’s insatiable sexuality was a threat to white women’s purity, according to historian Lisa Lindquist-Dorr’s book White Women, Rape, and the Power of Race in Virginia, 1900-1960. After the passing of the 15th Amendment, Rebecca Ann Latimer Felton, the first woman to serve in the Senate, pushed this dangerous message: “I do not want to see a negro man walk to the polls and vote on who should handle my tax money, while I myself cannot vote at all,” she said. “When there is not enough religion in the pulpit to organize a crusade against sin; nor justice in the court house to promptly punish crime; nor manhood enough in the nation to put a sheltering arm about innocence and virtue — if it needs lynching to protect woman’s dearest possession from the ravening human beasts — then I say lynch, a thousand times a week if necessary.” Securing voting rights for white women strengthened the toehold of white supremacy. As Belle Kearney, a suffragist and Mississippi senator, said, “The enfranchisement of women would insure immediate and durable white supremacy, honestly attained, for upon unquestioned authority it is stated that in every southern State but one there are more educated women than all the illiterate voters, white and black, native and foreign, combined. As you probably know, of all the women in the South who can read and write, ten out of every eleven are white. When it comes to the proportion of property between the races, that of the white outweighs that of the black immeasurably.” In other words, according to Kearney's statement, if white women were granted the right to vote, the black vote would be diluted or canceled out." www.teenvogue.com/story/womens-suffrage-leaders-left-out-black-women/amp |
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