Beginning in the middle of the nineteenth century and continuing into the twenty century, women’s rights activists traveled the country in an effort to win women’s suffrage; this is known as the Women’s Rights Movement. Ending in 1920, the movement was deemed successful as the Constitution was amended and all women in the United States were granted suffrage. This life altering success can be attributed to the hard work and unwavering devotion of five women. In Jean H. Baker’s book, Sisters, The Lives of America’s Suffragists, Baker's main focus is centered around who the women truly were as individuals. By examining the lives of Lucy Stone, Susan B. Anthony, Cady Stanton, Frances Willard, and Alice Paul, the book reveals an unfamiliar side
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Baker argues that these five women deserve to be remembered as actual people. Currently, the majority of what is taught about the suffragists is limited to their political achievements. Baker argues that their personal lives need to be documented and taught at the same level as their political lives. Baker facilitates this argument by providing very specific details about all five women’s lives that one would not find in a textbook. For example, Baker examines how Lucy Stone struggled with the societal pressure of getting married and having kids. She feared it would make her weak and less of an activist. Baker emphasized how Susan B. Anthony held a lot of resentment toward others, and as a result, lost many good friends and political partners because of her harsh criticism. Baker contrasted Susan by writing about how Elizabeth Cady Stanton enjoyed indulging and treating herself so much that she became obese. Finally, Baker shared how Frances Willard experienced heartbreak when she fell in love with a woman who married her own brother. By surfacing lesser known facts about these women, Baker gives them a true identity, revealing just how important they are in American
Baker argues that these five women deserve to be remembered as actual people. Currently, the majority of what is taught about the suffragists is limited to their political achievements. Baker argues that their personal lives need to be documented and taught at the same level as their political lives. Baker facilitates this argument by providing very specific details about all five women’s lives that one would not find in a textbook. For example, Baker examines how Lucy Stone struggled with the societal pressure of getting married and having kids. She feared it would make her weak and less of an activist. Baker emphasized how Susan B. Anthony held a lot of resentment toward others, and as a result, lost many good friends and political partners because of her harsh criticism. Baker contrasted Susan by writing about how Elizabeth Cady Stanton enjoyed indulging and treating herself so much that she became obese. Finally, Baker shared how Frances Willard experienced heartbreak when she fell in love with a woman who married her own brother. By surfacing lesser known facts about these women, Baker gives them a true identity, revealing just how important they are in American