Woman in the Nineteenth Century facts for kids
Woman in the Nineteenth Century is a famous book by Margaret Fuller. She was an American journalist and a strong supporter of women's rights. The book was first a long essay called "The Great Lawsuit. Man versus Men. Woman versus Women." It appeared in The Dial magazine in July 1843. Later, Fuller made it much longer and published it as a book in 1845.
Contents
What the Book is About
Margaret Fuller believed that people could become better versions of themselves. She thought this would happen when they understood "divine love." She felt that people were not fully awake to this love right now. But she was hopeful that a new time of understanding was coming.
Fuller said that in the past, men often looked for women. But she believed a time would come when women would also seek men. They would be equal partners in life.
Challenges to Equality
Fuller thought America had problems reaching equality. She felt it had inherited bad ideas from Europe. This led to unfair treatment of Native Americans and African Americans. She quoted ancient Medes who believed all people are equal. They said it was wrong to harm others' rights. The worst sin was being a hypocrite. Fuller believed people needed to act on their love for humanity. She noted that many women were part of the abolitionist movement. These groups worked to end slavery.
Men, Women, and Marriage
Fuller then looked at men and women in America. Many people thought men were the leaders of the home. Women were seen as the heart. Laws often treated women as less important. They were seen as equal to children, not men. Fuller argued that women needed to grow and learn to be independent. She believed that equality would make everyone's lives better. She pointed to history, like Christianity, where men and women were seen as equally important. Fuller said women needed freedom for their minds and spirits. This freedom should be equal to what men had.
Fuller described four types of marriage. She ranked them from lowest to highest.
- Household Partnership: This was a marriage of convenience. The man earned money, and the woman took care of the home.
- Mutual Idolatry: In this type, the couple saw only perfection in each other. They often ignored the rest of the world.
- Intellectual Companionship: Here, the man and woman were friends. They shared thoughts and feelings. They trusted each other, but love was not always strong.
- Religious Union: This was the highest form of marriage. It included parts of the other three types. The man and woman saw each other as equals. They were on a shared journey in life.
Fuller also mentioned "old maids," or unmarried women. People often looked down on them. But Fuller said they had a special chance. They could connect deeply with their spiritual side. Married people might not have this chance as much.
Differences Between People
Fuller also discussed differences between men and women. She said that the souls of men and women are the same. Even if they have different "masculine" or "feminine" traits. She believed the real differences were between individuals. She famously said, "There is no wholly masculine man, no purely feminine woman." This means everyone has a mix of traits.
Becoming Independent
Fuller concluded that people must be independent. This is needed before a true partnership can happen. For women to become independent, men should stop trying to control them. But women also need to claim their own independence. They must free themselves from men's influence. Fuller ended her essay looking to the future. She called for a woman who would teach other women to be strong individuals.
How the Book Was Made
Margaret Fuller started writing her essay in 1843. She was on a trip to Chicago. Another essay by Sophia Ripley might have given her the idea. Her essay, "The Great Lawsuit: Man versus Men, Woman versus Women," was first printed in The Dial. This was a transcendental journal. Fuller was the editor of this journal.
A publisher named Horace Greeley liked the essay. He told Fuller to make it into a full book. After she finished the longer version, she renamed it Woman in the Nineteenth Century. She wrote to a friend about it. She said she put a lot of her true self into the book. About one-third of the book was new material. Greeley helped publish it in February 1845. It was part of his "Cheerful Books for the People" series. Each copy sold for 50 cents.
