Mary Ann B Oakley

A biography of the woman who led the fight for women's rights. Stanton departed from the other women in calling for suffrage; then when suffrage was fashionable, she departed from the others by calling for more than suffrage. She sought full equality for women. She was ridiculed in the press, ignored in Congress, but eventually became one of the most beloved figures in America. The Amendment giving women the right to vote was written by her 50 years earlier, even though it bears Susan B. Anthony's name. The book is more interesting for what it doesn't say. While dealing with some of Stanton's critiques of religion, the book minimizes that aspect, though it was a very important aspect of her, and makes it look as though Stanton was a Christian who just disagreed with the way the scriptures were used to suppress women. This is unfortunate; the presumed need to whitewash history leads to poorer history.… (more)