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Unit 2 Entry Journal – Gender Equality in the Declaration of Sentiments

The Declaration of Sentiments was a manifesto delivered during the Seneca Falls Convention describing women’s grievances and demands. The Declaration of Sentiments aimed at calling on women to fight for their right to equality as guaranteed by the United States Constitution as they as U.S citizens as well. The document stated, “We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men and women are created equal,” asserting women’s equality in family, politics, religion, education, jobs and morals. As part of the sentiments, the declaration presented 19 abuses and usurpations that were destined to destroy the confidence of a woman in her own powers, lessen her self-respect, and deny her the willingness to lead a dependent and abject life. For example, women were denied the right to vote under the patriarchal society, and thus, they were forced to submit to las that did not consent. Besides, women were denied an education and held inferior positions in the church. Since they served a patriarchal society, women were required to be obedient to their husbands; they were prevented from owning properties including receiving unequal rights upon divorce and salaries which they earned on jobs belonged to their husbands. Based on this, the Declaration of Sentiments called on women to throw off governments that upheld such beliefs of inequality.

The Declaration of Sentiments paved a great way for women’s equality. Social scientists have documented a dramatic change in gender inequality in the last half a century – gender revolution since 1970-2018 (England, Andrew and Emma). However, in the last few decades, this change has slowed, suggesting further progress is required for substantial institutional and cultural change. To achieve women equality, men are required to increase their participation in household and care work, government provision of childcare, as well as the adoption of policies by employers that aim to reduce gender discrimination.

Works Cited

England, Paula, Andrew Levine, and Emma Mishel. “Progress toward gender equality in the United States has slowed or stalled.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 117.13 (2020): 6990-6997.