Susan B. Anthony

Susan B. Anthonybiographyonline.netA little girl was deemed smart, intelligent, and an exceptional student, who excelled at every school subject. One day, she was told that she wouldn’t be taught a math concept because she was a girl. According to her teacher, the only arithmetic that women were meant to be worried about are measurements for cooking (Dumbeck). That “little girl” was Susan B. Anthony, a well known women figure, who’s known for her attempts at achieving women’s rights and leading the Women’s Suffrage Movement (Freedman). She was born in Massachusetts in 1820. Because Anthony’s father was a devoted member of the Quakers, Susan B. Anthony grew up in the Quaker community. The Quakers were a group who allowed women the ability to participate in the discussion of political topics, such as abolition and temperance, due to believing that women and men were equal (Dumbeck). Anthony grew up with the same belief and spoke out in support of temperance and abolition, but her priorities changed to women’s rights when she was told her opinion didn't matter because she was a girl (McGill). “In the 1850s she met Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the two began a lifelong feminist collaboration” (Freedman). Anthony devoted her time to traveling, starting petitions, and making speeches to support her various causes. She later died in 1906, years before women were given the right to vote (McGill). A hero must possess determination and selflessness; someone who devotes their time to a cause despite the challenges they may face and willingly puts themselves in a compromised position to help others. A supporter of abolition, temperance, and women’s rights, Susan B. Anthony, an admirable women’s activist, spoke up on behalf of blacks and women, proving to be an inspiring figure, who possesses both determination and selflessness. She dedicated her time to her work and demonstrated selflessness through her actions, paving the way for future generations, to ensure their basic human rights are retained.

Susan B. Anthony casting a ballotfamous-trials.comDespite the protest and challenges she faced as a women, Susan B. Anthony’s strong determination aided her in her fight for temperance, abolition, and women’s rights. Anthony’s voice was not always heard by others: “… she was told that the organization objected to the presence of women at their meetings. She was asked to leave, even though she had been personally invited. Anthony took a seat anyway… Anthony stood to tell the men about the accomplishments of the Daughters of Temperance, but her words were drowned out by the shouting men. Anthony continued her address anyway…” (Dumbeck). Even though Anthony was silenced because of gender, she protested against the judgement of the men in the room, and expressed her views on the subject. Anthony stormed into the meeting determined to voice her opinions on use of alcohol, but received verbal abuse and angry protests to leave; however it did not deter her from her cause. Because of her determination, Anthony refused to leave without addressing the issue and although she was not heard, due to the shouting of the “superior men,” she continued to speak out. Anthony’s cause, however, did not end at the meeting: “Active in the campaign against liquor, she turned to women’s rights after being denied the right to speak to temperance meetings that included men” (“Susan B. Anthony Calls”). Before women’s rights, Anthony’s sole cause was in supporting temperance. When her opinions were denied because she was a woman, she began her fight for women’s rights. Anthony demonstrated determination because after her voice was disregarded, she didn't give up on speaking out, but instead changed her priorities to allow herself and other women a say in topics that affected all people. To support her new purpose for women’s rights, Anthony “claimed the right of a citizen by voting, an act for which she was arrested“ (Freedman). Anthony was determined to use her right as a citizen and protest her rights as a woman by voting, which only lead to a series of consequences. “An Albany court indicted her and she was brought before another court in Canandaigua the next year. The judge presiding over her case actually told the jury not to bother with deliberation and to find her guilty. She was fined $100, which she refused to pay” (McGill). Due to Anthony’s strong determination, not only was she arrested, but when the case was taken to court and fined, she refused to pay. Some may call this stubbornness, but Anthony showed true determination by sticking to her cause and beliefs, even when faced with the law. Susan B. Anthony, despite the verbal attacks and protest from “superior men,” spoke out against causes, such as temperance and women’s rights, showing her determination to see change happen for others.

Even when faced with criticism from political figures and men, Susan B. Anthony’s selflessness allowed her to pursue her goals for equality. Anthony was greeted with angry men who were against her and her causes. “Fiercely independent and zealously moral, she endured years of public abuse and sarcasm from those who made light of her work or who saw in her a dangerous threat to the status quo” (“Susan B. Anthony.” Contemporary). Anthony’s support for temperance, abolition, and women’s rights was not deterred by the abuse and criticism she received. Despite the hardships, she continued to persevere because it helped others. Not many people are as selfless as her and put themselves through verbal attacks. Anthony faced hardships in her journey to end temperance and speak out in support of women’s rights. “She was publicly mocked and threatened because of her work, but she was not deterred” (McGill). Anthony continued to face criticism to help her cause. Her cause was to help other and ensure that all people were given equal rights. She was a person who took actions that benefited others. Not a lot of people would do half of what Anthony accomplished for others, even without the cruel commentary. She showed selflessness because she worked to aid other despite all the judgment. Anthony dedicated her time to her work: “Although she spent nearly her entire life working to achieve woman suffrage, she was correct in her prediction that she would not live to see women earn the right to vote” (Dumbeck). Anthony spoke out on her thoughts about the women’s rights. She devoted her time to these causes and spent her life, up until her death, working. Anthony showed her selfless nature by protesting against causes, despite knowing she would not be able to see the change during her time. All of her efforts was to allow others equal rights and to ensure justice was served. Anthony took extra steps to help her cause: “Anthony waged petition campaigns to gain both married women’s property rights and suffrage at the state level, and she attempted to organize women factory workers” (Freedman). Anthony established petitions and made speeches all for a cause that ensure that others were given rights. She took extensive actions that benefited causes that helped others. She went as far as protesting in court, despite her minimal influence as a woman. Susan B. Anthony endured criticism from men and took actions that worked towards her goal of achieving equal rights for women and blacks. She showed selflessness through her endless work to give a voice for others.

Susan B. Anthony speaking out on women's rightssaysjan.blogspot.comThroughout Susan B. Anthony’s life, she protested in support of temperance, abolition, and later, women’s right, starting petitions and making speeches. Her devotion to her work and the actions she took towards her cause, revealed her determined character and selfless nature. “Asked a few years before her death if she believed that women would ever be given the vote, she replied, ‘It will come, but I shall not see it… It is inevitable. We can no more deny forever the right of self-government to one-half our people than we could keep the Negro forever in bondage'” (qtd. in Dumbeck). Anthony proves to be an inspiring figure because of her selflessness and determination. She was confident that she wouldn't see change happen in her lifetime, but that didn't stop her from attempting to make change happen for future generations. Anthony spoke out and said, "If we say we love the cause and then sit down at our ease, surely do our actions speak the lie" (qtd. in Bohannon). Anthony not only fought for other people’s rights, but inspired others to work for their own rights. The endless speeches she made persuaded people to stand up and think for themselves. In 1920, fourteen years after Anthony’s death, women were given the freedom to vote (McGill). Anthony paved the way for people to follow and left a long-lasting impact on others. She proved to be an inspiring and influential figure, and even after her death, others continued to work towards the same cause and make change happen. Susan B. Anthony is an inspiring figure to me because she spent her time petitioning and making speeches to support a cause that benefited others. She dedicated her life and worked, until weeks before her death, protesting. It shows the type of character she is because, despite knowing she would not live to see the change happen, she continued to fight and pave the way for next generations. She not only fought for the cause, but also persuaded others to fight for their own rights. Her determination and selflessness is something I admire about her. As someone who comes from Asian descents, I grew up with gender roles and the idea that men were more superior. I carry the same belief as Anthony that women should be treated as equals and be able to think for themselves. Not only did I agree with her views, but I admire how she took actions that lead towards her end goal of equality and temperance. Susan B. Anthony, in her last speech, left others with her motto: “Men, their rights and nothing more. Women, their rights and nothing less” (“Susan B. Anthony Calls”). She was a voice for other and spoke about topics women were not allowed to address. Susan B. Anthony inspired people to act upon their beliefs and towards a cause, proving to be an inspiring hero.

Works Cited

Bohannon, Lisa Frederiksen. "Failure Is Impossible: The Story of Susan B. Anthony." Failure Is Impossible: The Story of Susan B. Anthony, Jan. 2002, p. 8. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=b6h&AN=9797874&site=brc-live.

Dumbeck, Kristina. Leaders of Womens Suffrage. Lucent Books, 2001.

Freedman, Estelle B. The Essential Feminist Reader. Modern Library, 2007.

McGill, Sara Ann. "Susan B. Anthony." Susan B. Anthony, 8/1/2017, p. 1. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=b6h&AN=18055186&site=brc-live.

“Susan B. Anthony Calls for Women's Suffrage.” Digital History, Digital History, 1884, www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=1064.

"Susan B. Anthony." Contemporary Heroes and Heroines, vol. 3, Gale, 1998. Biography In Context, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1607000012/BIC?u=powa9245&sid=BIC&xid=9027c233. Accessed 3 May 2018.