Remember the Ladies: Silence, Freedom, & Petitions

My great grandmother was born on America’s Independence Day, July 4th 1914.  She used to tell me stories about her childhood—about how when she was little, every time she saw the night time sky exploding with color, she imagined the whole country was celebrating her birthday. She thought the fireworks were a personal dedication; something taking place in honor of her special day.  It made her feel important. No one else she knew received fireworks on their birthday.

Her mother tried to explain to her that it wasn’t her birth they were celebrating; instead, those bursts of light were meant to honor the birth of our nation. They were a celebration of our country and the right as American citizens to count as equal. Each explosion of color was set off in veneration of the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It wasn’t her American’s were cheering for—a young girl from a poor family—it was something else; something very different.

It took my great grandmother a long time to realize the weight of her mother’s words. Our country was certainly not celebrating my great grandmother’s birth. In fact, they weren't celebrating women at all.

We are often taught in history classes that the language of the Declaration of Independence was written to include all American citizens. We are told that “all men are created equal” and that all men “are endowed… with certain unalienable Rights”.  We are told that the language is meant to apply to all citizens regardless of sex or gender. When we hear the word men we should know that this means mankind and it is meant to include women. These truths, however, are far from self-evident.

It is no secret that women were deliberately disregarded from the language of our founding document. In 1776 when Abigail Adams pleaded with her husband John to “Remember the Ladies” in the language of the declaration, demanding a voice and representation, he dismissed her with a laugh. In his response he declared:

 “Depend upon it, We know better than to repeal our Masculine systems. Altho they are in full Force, you know they are little more than Theory. We dare not exert our Power in its full Latitude. We are obliged to go fair, and softly, and in Practice you know We are the subjects” –John Adams, 1776

John Adams recognized the power offered to men by the language used in the declaration; however, he assured Abigail that this was only theory, and in practice men would never abuse their position. After all, it was only language.

How powerful can language be?

It would seem that John Adams believed language in theory didn’t necessarily have a direct impingement upon embodied social practice. Although the declaration reflected an equality to be shared among men, he insisted the language was insignificant and in practice women too would be protected. Abigail Adams, however, recognized the force and the implications of such language. If women were not named in theory, they would also be forgotten in practice. Of course her pleas were ignored, and the impact of that prevailing masculine articulation resulted in the lack of both a voice and representation for women in the United States government for over one hundred and forty four years. It was not until August 18, 1920 that women obtained the right to vote; six years after my great grandmother was born.

For women in America August 18th marks a very significant day of independence. It marks the beginning of an independence from masculine systems of dominance and imposed silence on the women of the United States of America. Yet each year on that day not a single explosion of light or color can be seen blazing across our American night time sky. Even now our masculine discourse has trouble remembering the ladies.

As of today, we celebrate ten federal holidays as a nation. These important days mark the anniversary of significant historical events. The Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified on August 18, 1920. This amendment prohibits any citizen from being denied the right to vote on the basis of sex. This amendment granted women the right to vote in every state across America. Yet the anniversary of this day goes by every year without any significant recognition. In fact, as of today, not a single national holiday has been established to recognize the efforts and accomplishments of American women.

This lack of veneration says something of values. What do we hold dear? What do we respect? What do we deem important or significant? Who should we remember?

I have started a petition; a proposition to declare August 18^th a national holiday in honor of Woman’s Suffrage.You can find the link here:

http://www.change.org/petitions/women-s-suffrage-national-holiday?utm_campaign=share_button_modal&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=7413844