THE LIZ LIBRARY: Women's Movement Documents Section

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"You'd be amazed at the number of women
who don't know they are not protected by the U.S. Constitution."
                -- Dr. Agnes Wells, Emeritus Dean of Women, Indiana University
and President of the National Woman's Party, 1949

Woman's Rights Party Platform: 1922

[Ed. Note: Contrary to what is often taught, the women's movement didn't pass out of existence following the winning of women's suffrage in 1920 in the United States. The women's movement was alive and well, but suffered from a total blackout by the patriarchal press. Following women's suffrage, the women's movement again split into two main factions. One was the League of Women Voters, the brainchild of Carrie Chapment Catt who was certain the way of the future was that of women and that women had to be taught how to effectively use the vote. The other part was the Women's Party headed by multi- millionaire Mrs. Oliver H. P. Belmont and encompassed the activism of Alice Paul.
        The following is the Declaration of Principles of the Women's Party dated May 21, 1922 - read it and be VERY surprised - and ask, "WHY aren't we taught this???"]

"WHEREAS, Women today, although enfranchised, are still in every way subordinate to men before the law, in government, in educational opportunities, in professions, in the church, in industry, and in the home:

"BE IT RESOLVED, That as a part of our campaign to remove all form of the subjection of women, we shall work for the following immediate objects:
        "That women shall no longer be regarded and shall no longer regard themselves as inferior to men, but the equality of the sexes shall be recognized.
        "That women shall no longer be the governed half of society, but shall participate equally with men in the direction of life.
        "That women shall no longer be denied equal educational opportunities with men, but the same opportunities shall be given to both sexes in all schools, colleges, and universities which are supported in any way by public funds.
        "That women shall no longer be barred from any occupation, but every occupation to men shall be open to women and restrictions upon the hours, conditions and remuneration of labor shall apply alike to both sexes.
        "That women shall no longer be discriminated against in the legal, the medical, the teaching, or any other profession, but the same opportunities shall be given to women as to men in training for professions and in the practice of these professions.
        "That women shall no longer be discriminated against in civil and government service, but shall have the same right as men to pay in the executive, the legislative, and the judicial branches of the government service.
        "That women shall no longer be discriminated against in the foreign trade, consular and diplomatic service, but women as well as men shall represent our country in foreign lands."

[Franklin, husband of Eleanor, appointed the first woman ambassador in 1932. Note the dates and the calls for equality and wonder why HIStorians are still trying to sell the American people on the idea that the women's rights movement started in 1966 with the formation of NOW. -- WiiN Ed.]

        "That women shall no longer receive less pay than men for the same work, but shall receive equal compensation for equal work in public and private employment.
        "That women shall no longer be barred from the priesthood or ministry, or any position of authority in the church, but equally with men shall participate in ecclesiastical offices and dignites.
        "That a double moral standard shall no longer exist, but one code shall obtain for both men and women.
        "That exploitation of the sex of women shall no longer exist, but women shall have the same right to control of their persons as have men.
      "That women shall no longer be discriminated against in treatment of sex diseases and in punishment of sex offenses, but men and women shall be treated in the same was for sex diseases and sex offenses.
        "That women shall no longer be deprived of the right of trial by a jury of their peers, but jury service shall be open to women as to men.
        "That women shall no longer be disciminated against in inheritance laws, but men and women shall have the same right to inherit property.

[At this point I would invite you to consider the points and realize what sort of life women ACTUALLY had in 1921 - such as with inheritance, trial by jury of their peers (no women allowed on juries!). Only 70 years ago: Ronald Reagan was a boy being raised under these conditions; George Bush was a boy being raised under these conditions ... Nixon... your grandfathers... fathers... who actually thought the conditions which kept women close to slavery were normal! As are those who think "family values" means the women having no rights.]

        "That the identify of the wife shall no longer be merged in that of her husband, but the wife shall retain her separate identify after marriage and be able to contract with her husband concerning the marriage relationship.
        "That a woman shall no longer be REQUIRED by law or custom to assume the name of her husband upon marriage but shall have the same right as a man to retain her own name after marriage.
        "That the wife shall no longer be considered as supported by the husband, but their mutual contribution to the family maintenance shall be recognized.
        "That the headship of the family shall no longer be in the husband alone, but shall be equally in the husband and the wife.
        "That the husband shall no longer own his wife's services, but these shall belong to her alone as in the case of any free person.
        "That the husband shall no longer own his wife's earnings, but these shall belong to her alone.
        "That the husband shall no longer own or control his wife's property, but it shall belong to her and be controlled by her alone.
        "That the husband shall no longer control the joint property of his wife, but the wife shall have the right to obtain divorce on the same grounds as the husband.
        "That the husband shall no longer have a greater right to make contracts than the wife, but a wife shall have equal right with her husband to make contracts.

[Do the living conditions for women revealed above appear to be at odds with the rights Americans were supposed to have??? Yes, history has been very careful to NOT reveal what women's lives were really like.]

        "That married women shall no longer be denied the right to choose their own citizenship, but shall have the same independent choice of citizenship as is possessed by their husbands.
        "That women shall no longer be discriminated against in the economic world because of marriage, but shall have the same treatment in the economic world after marriage as have men.
        "That the father shall no longer have the paramount right to the care, custody, and control of the child, to determine its education and religion, to the guardianship of its estate and to the control of its services and earnings, but these rights shall be shared equally by the father and mother in the case of all children, whether born within or without the marriage ceremony.

[Ed. Note: This meant equal rights under the law to have custody determined upon divorce or separation, and does not imply the outcome of "joint custody" upon separation or divorce. See the writings and opinions of Stanton.]

        "That no form of the Common Law or Civil Law disabilities of women shall any longer exist, but women shall be equal with men before the law.
        "In short - That women shall no longer be in any form of subjection to man in law to custom, but shall in every way be on an equal plane in rights, as she has always been and will continue to be, in responsibilities and obligations.

[Ed. Note: The Declaration of the Woman's Party in 1922 followed the first declaration for Women's Rights in the convention in Seneca Falls by 80 years and was in turn followed 40 years later by the declaration of intent of the National Organization for Women in 1966. It is now more than 150 years since Seneca Falls and women STILL don't have equal rights under the laws of the United States of America!
        Aimed at implementing the program of the Women's Party of 1921, the following plan was developed. (Does it sound familiar, NOW? Oh, we've come a long way, ladies, but we have so much further to go. Without exception, the program for activism remains the same to this date!)]:

THE OUTLINE OF THE Women's Party PLAN OF CAMPAIGN is as follows:
        "I. National Work - Make certain that your United States Senators and your Congressmen give their whole-hearted support and their vote to all Equal Rights legislation before Congress.

[When was the last time you wrote your representatives in Washington?]

        "II. State Work - Make certain that your Senators and your Representatives in the State Legislature give their whole-hearted support and their vote to All Equal Rights legislation.
        "III. Local Work - Make certain that your own locality is at least one sport in the United States where every girl that is born has an equal change in life with every boy and where, throughout life, there are not handicaps of any kind placed upon women because of their sex.
        "To this end make certain:
                "(1) That women are nominated for all elective offices in your local community, your county and your state, and are supported in the elections and are placed equally with men in the offices which control the life of your community.
                "(2) That women are appointed equally with men to all appointive positions under your local, your county, and your state government.
                "(3) That the same opportunities are given to girls as to boys in all schools, colleges, and universities in your community which are supported in whole or in part by public funds; that in these educational institutions girls have the same opportunities as boys to study in all department; that entrance requirements are equal; the opportunity for trade and vocational training is equal; that opportunity for physical training and for entrance into the athletic life of the institutions is equal; the opportunity for physical training and for entrance into the athletic life of the institution is equal; that opportunity for obtaining academic honors, scholarships, fellowships, and all other honors is equal.
                "(4) That in your community, all occupations and professions, whether public or private, are open to women on the same terms as to men; that women equally with men are appointed to the administrative and other positions involving power and high salaries; that women have the same opportunities to advancement in these occupations and professions; that they are paid equally for the same work; that they have equal opportunity to enter the Unions of their trade and to participate in the government of the Unions; that women engaged in business or working at any paid occupations are encouraged and supported; that whenever public money is spent, women receive the appointments, contracts, or commissions equally with men.
                "(5) That in the churches in your community women have an equal share with men in the governing of the church, and in participation in the ministry and all ecclesiastical offices and dignities.
                "(6) That in your community, the public sentiment supports a single moral and ethical code for men and women, and that all actus which are considered dishonorable or wrong in one sex, are considered the same in the other sex.
                "(7) That in your community one sex in no way preys upon the other by the white slave trade; by forcing it into prostitution or in any other way; that men and women receive the same examination, quarantine and treatment for sex diseases; that when men and women are punished for sex offenses they are punished in the same way for the same offense.
                "(8) That in your community married women are not dismissed from government service, the schools, or from private employment because of their marriage."

[This concludes the activist advice given in 1922 by the Women's Party.]

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© 1990-2006 Irene Stuber, Hot Springs National Park, AR 71902. Originally web-published at http://www.undelete.org/
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