Question

Read the following passage from Catherine Beecher's A Treatise on Domestic Economy before you choose your answer. "It appears, then, that it is in America alone that women are raised to equality with the other sex; and that, both in theory and practice, their interests are regarded as of equal value. They are made subordinate in station [inferior in status] only where a regard [concern] to their best interests demands it, while, as if in compensation for this, by custom and courtesy they are always treated as superiors. Universally in this country, through every class of society, precedence is given to woman in all the comforts, conveniences, and courtesies of life. In civil and political affairs, American women take no interest or concern, except so far as they sympathize with their family and personal friends; but, in all cases in which they do feel a concern, their opinions and feelings have a consideration equal or even superior to that of the other sex." Which claim statement best describes the author's position on women's suffrage?

Answer 1

Catherine Beecher acknowledged societal regard for women but did not explicitly support women's suffrage. Suffragists like Stanton and Truth argued for voting rights, highlighting women's education as key to equality. The suffrage movement faced a split with the 14th and 15th amendments, but continued to challenge legal inequalities and advocate for civil rights.

Step-by-step explanation:

The claim statement that best describes the author's position on women's suffrage in the passage from Catherine Beecher's A Treatise on Domestic Economy suggests that while she acknowledges the societal regard for women's opinions and comforts, she does not explicitly support women's suffrage. In the context of the broader women's rights movement, Catherine Beecher represented a perspective that focused primarily on women's roles within the domestic sphere, rather than on overt political activism. In contrast, suffragists like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Sojourner Truth actively fought for women's right to vote and challenged patriarchal narratives that deemed women unfit for the complexities of political life. These efforts by women's rights advocates were central to challenging existing legal strictures and advocating for civil equality.

Notably, the passage of the 14th and 15th amendments, while extending voting rights to African-American men, did not include women, resulting in a split within the suffrage movement. The suffrage movement emphasized the inconsistencies in a society that revered women in the domestic realm yet denied them fundamental political rights such as the right to vote. Opponents of suffrage, citing women's delicate nature and domestic responsibilities, argued against their enfranchisement, while proponents noted the inequity that even property-holding single women were not allowed to vote. Early suffrage activists highlighted the importance of women's education as crucial to enabling them to exercise reason at the same level as men and thus deserving of equal treatment under the law.

Answer 2

There are no options provided with this answer. However, we can still try to understand how to best describe the author's position on women's suffrage.

First of all, the author seems to believe that the spheres and topics that interest women and men are very different from each other. She argues that women have no opinions or interest when it comes to topics such as politics and civics. She suggests that women's interests life in more domestic affairs. Therefore, it is likely she believes female suffrage to be pointless.

Moreover, the author also seems to believe that women have no use for suffrage because their position is already excellent within society. She argues that women are equal to men, and even superior sometimes, in all social matters. Therefore, she most likely believes that there is no room for improvement.