When reviewing the history of the Early Republic, the roles and actions of men are noted as being the key influential figures for the time period. When taking a deeper look into the sociocultural issues of the Early Republic, there were a number of women who argued for furthering the rights and pushing for some aspect of equality for females. While complete gender equality may have seem nearly incomprehensible to most due to the social constraints and traditions of the time, women like Judith Sargent Murray assisted in advocating for the rights of women by laying the foundational stepping stones for feminism in the United States. During her time, the world had undergone massive changes in challenging the traditional order, and the issues
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Murray’s position on women and rights to property is directly correlated to her experience of being a widow. While there were laws established to protect women after their husbands have passed, “[a] widow’s share of her husband’s real property was meant to guarantee her security, not to give her independence…[and] Judith knew that many women became destitute when a husband died,” (49). Women could also not sell their own property without their husbands’ approval, to which Judith Sargent Murray stated that, “[t]he law, acknowledges no separate act of a married woman,” (51). After the death of her husband, Murray sought various means to generate income for herself and, “identified with the interests and values of New England’s merchant community…[and was a] strong supporter of the Federalist party, [who] never abandoned her belief in order, stability and hierarchy,” (55). Most importantly Judith Sargent Murray’s position on women and property during her time were radical, claiming that “’independence’ was essential to the basic humanity of every person,” leaving “no doubt that she spoke simply of colonial independence from England, but of economic independence for women as well,” (55). It is no question that her personal experience and struggles she felt during this time period shaped her views that being independent meant also financial stability and
Murray’s position on women and rights to property is directly correlated to her experience of being a widow. While there were laws established to protect women after their husbands have passed, “[a] widow’s share of her husband’s real property was meant to guarantee her security, not to give her independence…[and] Judith knew that many women became destitute when a husband died,” (49). Women could also not sell their own property without their husbands’ approval, to which Judith Sargent Murray stated that, “[t]he law, acknowledges no separate act of a married woman,” (51). After the death of her husband, Murray sought various means to generate income for herself and, “identified with the interests and values of New England’s merchant community…[and was a] strong supporter of the Federalist party, [who] never abandoned her belief in order, stability and hierarchy,” (55). Most importantly Judith Sargent Murray’s position on women and property during her time were radical, claiming that “’independence’ was essential to the basic humanity of every person,” leaving “no doubt that she spoke simply of colonial independence from England, but of economic independence for women as well,” (55). It is no question that her personal experience and struggles she felt during this time period shaped her views that being independent meant also financial stability and