Final answer:
Women's rights activists faced multifaceted opposition, including economic concerns, traditional gender roles, and societal and religious conservatism. They used various strategies, such as economic analysis and political activism, to confront and challenge these societal norms and patriarchal structures.
Step-by-step explanation:
Women's rights activists faced a variety of arguments against equal rights and political power for women, characterized by a combination of (d) All of the above: Economic concerns, traditional gender roles, social stability, religious beliefs, fear of disrupting societal norms, and patriarchal opposition. Throughout history, arguments against the expansion of women's rights have often centered on the economic repercussions of gender equality, as well as steadfast adherence to traditional gender roles that delineate separate spheres of influence for men and women. Advocates for women's suffrage and other rights were often depicted as unfeminine or as neglecting their traditional duties as wives and mothers, which served to uphold a societal structure defined by male dominance. These traditional views also tied into broader concerns about social stability and religious conventions, where granting women equal rights was seen as an affront to established social orders and religious teachings.
Women's rights activists, such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Betty Friedan, and numerous suffrage organizations used diverse strategies to tackle these arguments, pushing against economic inequality, engaging in political activism, and challenging the very norms that sought to keep women in subordinate societal roles. Activists also sought to demonstrate the capabilities and contributions of women in various fields, from labor unions to military service and counteracted the idea that women were somehow lacking in mental faculties.