The Modern Woman's Rights Movement Part 16

The taxpaying j.a.panese becomes a voter at the age of twenty-five. The j.a.panese woman has no political rights. Hence a pet.i.tion has been presented to Parliament requesting that women be granted the right to form organizations and to hold meetings. Parliament favored the measure. But the government is still hesitating, hence a new pet.i.tion has been sent to Parliament.

The modern woman's rights movement in j.a.pan is supported by the following organizations: two societies favoring woman's education, the a.s.sociations for hygiene, and the society favoring dress reform. The _Women's Union_ and the _League of Women_ can be regarded as political organizations.

There are j.a.panese women authors and journalists.

Since Korea has belonged to j.a.pan, changes have begun there also. The Korean women have neither a first name nor a family name. According to circ.u.mstances they are called daughter of A. B., wife of A., etc. It is a sign of the time and also of the awakening of woman's self-reliance that the government of Korea has been presented with a pet.i.tion, signed by many women, requesting that these conditions be abolished and that women be granted the right to have their own names.

We have completed our journey round the world,--from j.a.pan to the United States is only a short distance, and the intellectual relations between the two countries are quite intimate. Few oriental people seem more susceptible to European culture than the j.a.panese. But whatever woman's rights movement there is in non-European countries, it owes its origin almost without exception to the activity of educated occidentals,--to the men and women teachers, educators, doctors, and missionaries. Here is an excellent field for our activities; here is a duty that we dare not forget in the midst of our own struggles. For we cannot estimate the n.o.ble work and uplifting power that the world loses in those countries where women are merely playthings and beasts of burden.

CONCLUSION

In the greater part of the world woman is a slave and a beast of burden.

In these countries she rules only in exceptional cases--and then through cunning. Equality of rights is not recognized; neither is the right of woman to act on her own responsibility. Even in most countries of European civilization woman is not free or of age. In these countries, too, she exists merely as a s.e.xual being. Woman is free and is regarded as a human being only in a very small part of the civilized world. Even in these places we see daily tenacious survivals of the old barbarity and tyranny.

Hence it is not true that woman is the "weaker," the "protected," the "loved," and the "revered" s.e.x. In most cases she is the overworked, exploited, and (even when living in luxury) the oppressed s.e.x. These circ.u.mstances dwarf woman's humanity, and limit the development of her individuality, her freedom, and her responsibility. These conditions are opposed by the woman's rights movement. The movement hopes to secure the happiness of woman, of man, of the child, and of the world by establis.h.i.+ng the equal rights of the s.e.xes. These rights are based on the recognition of equality of merit; they provide for responsibility of action. Most men do not understand this ideal; they oppose it with unconscious egotism.

This book has given an accurate account of the _means_ by which men oppose woman's rights: scoffing, ridicule, insinuation; and finally, when prejudice, stubbornness, and selfishness can no longer resist the force of truth, the argument that they do not wish to grant us our rights. There is little encouragement in this; but it shall not perplex us. Man, by opposing woman, caused the struggle between the s.e.xes. Only equality of rights can bring peace. _Woman_ is already certain of her equality. _Man_ will learn by experience that renunciation can be "manly," that business can be "feminine," and that all "privilege" is obnoxious. The emanc.i.p.ation of woman is synonymous with the education of man.

Educating is always a slow process; but it inspires limitless hope. When "ideas" have once seized the ma.s.ses, these ideas become an irresistible force. This is irrefutably proved by the strong growth of our movement since 1904 in all countries of European civilization, and by the awakening of women even in the depths of oriental civilization. The events of the past five years justify us in entertaining great hopes.

Footnotes:

[1] I have discussed the theoretical side in a pamphlet of "The German Public Utility a.s.sociation" (_Deutscher Gemeinnutziger Verein_), Prague, 1918 Palackykai.

[2] The presiding officers of the International Council to the present time were: Mrs. Wright Sewall and Lady Aberdeen. This year, June, 1909, Lady Aberdeen was reelected.

[3] The report of the International Woman's Suffrage Congress, London, May, 1909, had not yet appeared, and the reader is therefore referred to it.

[4] Their inferiority in numbers (in Australia and in the western states of the United States) has, however, often served their cause in just the same way.

[5] "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude."

[6] Composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

[7] In many states by two consecutive legislatures.

[8] On November 8, 1910, an amendment providing for woman's suffrage was adopted by the voters of Was.h.i.+ngton. [Tr.]

[9] On November 8, 1910, both South Dakota and Oregon rejected amendments providing for woman's suffrage. [Tr.]

[10] In October, 1911, California adopted woman's suffrage by popular vote. [Tr.]

[11] This "Conference on the Care of Dependent Children" was called by President Roosevelt, and met, January 25 and 26, 1909, in the White House.

Two hundred and twenty men and women,--experts in the care of children, from every state in the Union,--met, and proposed, among other things, the establishment of a Federal Child's Bureau. Thus far Congress has done nothing to carry out the proposal. (_Charities and the Commons_, Vol. XXI, 643, 644; 766-768; 968-990.) [Tr.]

[12] The "mothers" hold special congresses in the United States to discuss educational and public questions. (Mothers' Congresses.)

[13] Here universal male suffrage is meant. [Tr.]

[14] In November, 1910, an amendment in favor of woman's suffrage was defeated by a referendum vote in Oklahoma. [Tr.]

[15] The amendment pa.s.sed the Senate and was adopted in November, 1910, by popular vote. [Tr.]

[16] In November, 1910, a woman's suffrage amendment was again defeated, as was the amendment prohibiting the sale of liquor. [Tr.]

[17] In November, 1910, four women were elected to the House of Representatives of the Colorado legislature. [Tr.]

[18] Mrs. Ida Husted Harper, in collaboration with Susan B. Anthony, has written a _History of Woman's Suffrage_ which deals with the subject so far as the United States are concerned. [Tr.]

[19] Equal pay has been established by law in the states having woman's suffrage.

[20] It is worth mentioning that in the Spanish-American War Miss McGee filled the position of a.s.sistant surgeon in the medical department, doing so with distinction.

[21] A. v. Maday, _Le droit des femmes au travail_, Paris, Giardet et Briere.

[22] In her book, _L'ouvriere aux etats-Unis_, Paris, Juven, 1904.

[23] Those who cannot pay an annual tax of two dollars.

[24] In _L'ouvriere aux etats-Unis_.

[25] The organ of the National American Woman's Suffrage a.s.sociation is _Progress_ and is published in Warren, Ohio. There, one can also secure _Perhaps_ and _Do you Know_, two valuable propaganda pamphlets written by Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt. Other literature on woman's suffrage can be obtained from the same source.

[26] Although New Zealand is not politically a part of the Australian Federation, it will for convenience be treated here as such.

[27] The theological degrees are granted only in England.

[28] Report of the International Woman's Suffrage Conference, Was.h.i.+ngton, 1902.

[29] Report of the National Council of Women, 1908.

[30] _Woman Suffrage in Australia_, by Vida Goldstein.

[31] Both published in Rotterdam, 92 Kruiskade, International Woman's Suffrage Alliance.

[32] Consult Helen Blackburn, _History of Woman's Suffrage in England_.

[33] See the excellent little work of Mrs. C. C. Stopes, "The Sphere of 'Man' in the British Const.i.tution," _Votes for Women_, London, 4 Clement's Inn.

[34] In the Irish Sea, between Ireland and Scotland, having a population of 29,272 women and 25,486 men.

[35] 4 Clement's Inn, Strand, London, W.C.

[36] See E. Robin's novel, _The Convert_.