Today in 1838, Victoria Claflin Woodhull was born.
As a testament to her legacy, two prominent organizations are named after her.
The Woodhull Freedom Foundation has this to say about their namesake:
Victoria Woodhull (1838-1927) was a progressive and outspoken nineteenth-century activist who introduced sex-positive values to America during the repressive Victorian era. Far ahead of her time, Woodhull spoke frankly on the topic of sexual freedom and advocated for women's equality in the home, workplace, and in the political arena.
The Woodhull Institute for Ethical Leadership has more:
The woman who inspired and served as namesake to this organization is Victoria Woodhull, a nineteenth-century feminist who was the first woman stockbroker on Wall Street; the first woman to produce her own newspaper; and the first woman to run for President of the United States when women did not even have the right to vote. Victoria Woodhull was a fearless lobbyist, businesswoman, writer and investor who advocated for a woman's equal status in the workplace, political arena, church and family.Victoria Woodhull was in some ways like the Susan B. Anthonys and Elizabeth Cady Stantons of her time. Like them, she advocated for the full education of daughters, foregoing the 19th century belief that daughters, mothers and wives should be silent 'angels of the house' submissively catering to men's needs. Like them, she called for a vote and a voice. But there the resemblance ends - for she was in many ways a quintessentially modern woman, and far ahead of her time.
She spoke frankly of the need for women to take control of their reproductive life and health- so frankly that she was not received in the most respectable drawing rooms, even those belonging to the feminists of her day. Even her language differs sharply from that of her well-meaning sisters in the suffrage movement: where they were often circuitous and genteel, Woodhull had no patience for mincing words; every speech was ablaze with bold honesty as she savagely criticized Victorian hypocrisies and political inequities.
Two centuries later, the Woodhull Institute for Ethical Leadership is inspiring and encouraging more empowered women in the image of Victoria Woodhull by providing the skills needed to attain and excel in leadership roles. Like Ms. Woodhull, who stunned her nineteenth-century community with her brazen feminist advocacy, the Woodhull Institute has the equally bold goal to guarantee that all women, regardless of race, ethnicity, economic background, sexual preference, or religious and political affiliation, can achieve their highest dreams.
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Today in Feminist History.
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.feministing.com/cgi-bin/movabletype/mt-tb.fcgi/16136
People forget that women have been fighting for sexual and reproductive autonomy for a long time.
True! There was a women's rights movement in Germany in the 1750's that rivaled the one here in the 1960's, though the work they accomplished was mostly undone by the wars.
There are so many Feminist figures like this whose names are almost completely lost to history. The Sewell-Belmont house in DC, for example, showcases many of the leaders that Alice Paul came across over the years.
Often the people who history has chosen to largely ignore are the most interesting.
Victoria Woodhull was an awesome woman and she was said to be one of the few women of her time to look men in the eye.
I am finishing "Other Powers" for the third time right now. It's a fantastic overview of Victorian America, focusing on Spiritualism, Women's Rights and Victoria Woodhull. I highly recommend it. The stories are amazing and important and everyone should read it. Woodhull is awesome.
I may not like her ideas about free love, but I do agree with a great deal of what she said, including:
"The rights of children as individuals begin while yet they remain the foetus."
Thanks Miriam, I always learn so much from your posts!
Hells YES. She's my favorite! Check out my Victoria Woodhull tshirt: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=31451746