In the early years of the thirteen colonies of America, there were many different ideas and philosophies beginning to be heard. Enlightening ideas about religion, science, social issues, and cultural issues were being explored in ways they had not previously been thought about. One these ideas was feminism and gender equality.
Judith Sargent Murray was one of these early philosophers and thinkers asking questions about the nature of gender dynamics. She often wondered why men were considered superior to women in terms of education, religion, and even rational thought. Likewise, she was one of the first feminists to write an essay about these large inequalities in thinking.
In her essay On the Equality of the Sexes, Murray begins with a poem questioning the legitimacy of the status quo. She points out the silliness of the stereotype that men are superior to women in terms of religion and even considered more capable of having rational thoughts. Similarly, in her next section, she blatantly questions why women are often treated as mere objects to be sent into the kitchen and to quilt, but not to be mentioned on the same level as their husbands. In the third and final section, she talks about the spirituality of this problem, and discusses her point of how this is not the way it is meant to be by consulting scripture.
She says:
“Well, but the woman was first in the transgression. Strange how blind self love renders you men; were you not wholly absorbed in a partial admiration of your own abilities, you would long since have acknowledged the force of what I am now going to urge. It is true some ignoramuses have absurdly enough informed us, that the beauteous fair
of paradise, was seduced from her obedience, by a malignant demon, in the guise of a baleful serpent; but we, who are better informed, know that the fallen spirit presented himself to her view, a shining angel still; for thus, saith the criticks in the Hebrew tongue, ought the word to be rendered.”
Although very aggressive this statement would have been at the time, the point she is making is completely valid. In regard to the biblical belief of Adam and Eve, and how Eve was tempted by Satan in the Garden of Eden, she points out that she was deceived. Basically, Eve did not purposely eat the apple that was offered by the serpent which resulted in both Adam and Eve being cast out of the garden.
Furthermore, Murray makes a great argument about the very foundation of sexism. Interestingly, she makes this a discussion to be had, rather than an accusation due to the way she structured her essay. What about the structure of this essay, or the way in which the ideas were ordered in the text, aids the subject in being understood and received well?
It might have something to do with the presentation of each idea. She first starts with a poem. Almost mocking men who believe they are superior to women, yet explains to them why this thought is fallacious. Moreover, she then moves into the idea of rational thought and how men are seen as being more capable then women in this area. Casually, she points out the idea that women are just as capable as men of having and understanding ideas.
After this, she moves onto the topic of religion and sexism. Likewise, she points out rationally, that the idea of blaming all women for Eves transgression in the Garden is nothing less of preposterous.
The points made by Judith Sargent Murray are valid and celebrated because of the way she followed her line of reasoning. Going from making her claim with the poem, to discussing that women are just as capable of rationality as men, to then using that rational thinking to discuss the beliefs of what happened in the Garden of Eden.
Michael Tavernier American Lit 