The Women’s Rights Movement, occurring in the late eighteen hundreds, challenged the ideology of the “perfect” woman. Women’s voices and actions were disregarded and unheard. The movement embodied a principle derived from Ralph Waldo Emerson, “The idea of thinking of oneself without the rules of society inspires free thought (Emerson “Self Reliance”),” a transcendentalist who himself drove women to take action against society. Activists involved in the movement embodied the tenet, proving women to be qualified for equality amongst society and men. Women’s Right Movement, specifically in the nineteenth century, was influenced by transcendentalists such as Margaret Fuller, inspiring modern day writers such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
Growing up in the nineteenth century, being born in 1810, Margaret Fuller was acquainted with the social stigmas and status women upheld. Having been disappointed with conceiving a daughter, Timothy Fuller, Margaret’s father, spent his time rigorously educating her himself, and eventually assisting her in attending school. Margaret’s assertive and fierce qualities would often put off her peers, but her intellectual capabilities allowed her to gain acquaintances from many well respected intellectuals, this would eventually lead to include Ralph Waldo Emerson. Margaret continued to “Enlarge both her intellectual accomplishments and personal acquaintances, attracting many prominent people from all around Boston (biography.com)”.
With her newly developed relationships, Fuller acquired a position editing The Dial Magazine. The Dial’s purpose was to give utterance to Transcendentalists’ insights and influence society and future intellects of the nineteenth century. In July of 1843, Fuller published an essay written for The Dial titled “The Great Lawsuit: Man versus Men; Woman versus Women.” The composition focused on the pressure placed on real, flawed, humans, to be perfect. She later went into further detail, expanding the piece in her most notorious publishing, Woman in the Nineteenth Century, which would eventually inspire the Women’s Rights Movement of America.
“The book argues that all persons, especially women, should be encouraged and allowed to grow personally and socially. It criticizes the ways women are treated as inferior and confined to the home as wives and mothers (womenhistoryblog.com)”.
Margaret Fuller’s, Woman in the Nineteenth Century, greatly impacted the Woman’s Rights Movement, having been introduced formally at the first Women’s Rights Convention at Seneca Falls. Elizabeth Cady Stanton emphasized Fuller’s impact in her speech at Seneca Falls,
“Who was this strong-willed and determined woman who aggressively pursued her dreams of integrating her feminine and masculine aspects of her psyche in the sacred marriage and insisted that men and women everywhere needed to embrace this for their well-being and happiness? How we need Margaret Fuller’s presence, resourcefulness, and brilliance today as we seek full and equal rights for women in America and in the world. Can we let go of our gender roles and stereotypes to fulfill who we each are in the world? (Stanton, Seneca Falls)”.
Elizabeth also stressed Fuller’s impact in her publish of Woman in the Nineteenth Century, “The Dial, in Boston, a transcendental quarterly, edited by Margaret Fuller, made its appearance in 1840; its contributors, among whom were Ralph Waldo Emerson, Bronson Alcott, Theodore Parker, Wm. H. Channing, and the nature-loving Thoreau, were some of the most profound thinkers of the time. (Stanton, History of Woman Suffrage)”. “Margaret Fuller possessed more influence on the thought of American women than any woman previous to her time (Stanton, History of Woman Suffrage).”
Margaret Fuller’s major works impacted the future for feminists and activists. Influenced by her passion and drive, Elizabeth Cady Stanton worked for over 50 years, attempting to make a change in woman’s rights, and eventually becoming one of the first leaders of the Woman’s Rights Movement. Stanton’s work helped achieve the eventual passing of the 19th Amendment, which gave all citizens, including women the right to vote. Together, Fuller and Stanton, molded the future for all woman, and continually inspire movements and activists today.