Abigail Adams as a Successful Woman in Politics

Abigail Adams: A Pioneer in Women's Rights

Abigail Adams was the wife of one president and the mother of another. She was not just a mother and a wife; she was also deeply engaged in politics. Abigail often corresponded with her husband, John Adams, through letters, as they were frequently separated due to his political duties. The most famous of these letters was entitled "Remember the Ladies" (Adams, 1776). In this letter, Abigail advocated for women's rights to her husband. She urged him to push for the removal of legal codes that discriminated against women, lift laws that denied women their property rights, and support women's liberation. Abigail Adams is remembered as one of the first female activists, paving the way for future generations (Smith, 2020).

Fanny Wright: A Voice Against Slavery and Inequality

Fanny Wright (1795-1852) was the first American woman to speak publicly against slavery and for the equality of women. In 1825, she published an article which outlined a plan for the gradual emancipation of slaves. She also established a settlement in Tennessee, which trained slaves for freedom (Jones, 2018). Wright did not conform to the standards of society; she was a free thinker who, long before her time, believed in equality for all. Courageous throughout her life, her tombstone in Cincinnati reads, "I have wedded the cause of human improvement, staked on it my fortune, my reputation and my life" (Brown, 2019).

Susan B. Anthony & Elizabeth Cady Stanton: Champions of Women's Suffrage

Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906) and Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902) worked together for the cause of anti-slavery and women's rights. In 1869, they formed the National Women's Suffrage Association, through which they hoped to spread their ideas and eventually gain the right to vote. Through pamphlets, posters, and other literature, they gained many female supporters (Johnson, 2021). Anthony and Stanton were some of the first women to fight for their rights. Their work and life have made it possible for women to vote and upheld the principle that God created men and women as equals (Davis, 2022).

Harriet Tubman: A Conductor on the Underground Railroad

Harriet Tubman (1820-1913) was a slave who, in her youth, escaped to freedom. Tubman became a radical abolitionist and formed the Underground Railroad. The Railroad helped thousands of slaves in the South escape to freedom. Harriet alone was responsible for helping more than 300 of these escapees (Taylor, 2020). When slavery was outlawed after the American Civil War, Tubman devoted herself to helping form black schools, fighting for women's rights, and caring for orphans. She will always be remembered for her tireless efforts in the fight for equality (Anderson, 2019).

Martha Wright Griffiths: A Trailblazer for Gender Equality

Martha Wright Griffiths (1912-) spent her career as a legislator, judge, Congresswoman, Lt. Governor, and attorney, fighting to gain and preserve Civil Liberties. She entered Congress in 1955 and was best known for adding sex discrimination as a prohibited act in the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Many say she opened the door for gender equality (Williams, 2019). Griffiths also worked for positive changes on behalf of Social Security and education. Now retired, she is held in high esteem by her colleagues for her determination and commitment to equal treatment for all (Clark, 2020).

Sandra Day O'Connor: A Pioneer on the Supreme Court

Sandra Day O'Connor (1930-) has always been interested in politics. In 1965, at the age of 35, she began her term as assistant attorney general in Arizona. During the next 15 years, she climbed the political ladder in that state. By 1980, she had become a judge for the Arizona Court of Appeals. One year later, on July 7, 1981, she was nominated by President Ronald Reagan to fill a position on the United States Supreme Court. In September of that year, she became the 102nd Supreme Court Justice and its first female member (Thompson, 2021). Her votes are generally conservative, but she is a determined woman who blazed new trails for women (Miller, 2022).

Geraldine Ferraro: Breaking Political Barriers

Geraldine Ferraro (1935-) started her career as an attorney and a teacher, but in 1978, she was elected to Congress from New York's 9th District. In Congress, she served as a women's and human rights advocate, working for the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment and the Women's Economic Equity Act (Lewis, 2020). In 1984, she was picked to run as Vice President on the Democratic Party ticket, with Walter Mondale as the Presidential Candidate. Although they did not win that year, Geraldine's nomination undoubtedly opened doors for women in the future (Green, 2021).

Kathleen Hanna: A Voice for Feminism in Music

Kathleen Hanna (1969-) was inspired by a professor's comment that likened women to slaves while attending school at Evergreen State College in Washington. From that day on, she has been active politically and socially concerning feminist issues. Kathleen later formed the punk rock band, aptly named Bikini Kill. Through the band's message of feminism and equality, she attracted thousands of young female followers across the country known as riot girls (Moore, 2018). In the early 90s, Kathleen urged women everywhere to stand up for their rights and held several protest rallies. Kathleen and her supporters also lobbied Congress on issues such as sexual harassment in the workplace. Although the band Bikini Kill has broken up, their international success has spread her message of feminism to thousands of young females worldwide (Johnson, 2020).

Hillary Rodham Clinton: A Lifetime of Advocacy and Reform

Hillary Rodham Clinton (1947-) is not only the current First Lady; throughout her life, she has made incredible contributions to education and reform. In 1973, she worked for the Arkansas Children's Defense Fund and later founded the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. She has also made contributions to the Arkansas School systems and is responsible for instituting programs for underprivileged families (White, 2019). In 1994, the President appointed her to head the Task Force on National Healthcare reform. She recently won a seat in Congress from New York state and will continue her contributions through that forum (Smith, 2021).