"You'd be amazed at the number
of women
who don't know they are not protected by the U.S. Constitution."
-- Dr. Agnes
Wells, Emeritus Dean of Women, Indiana University
and President of the National Woman's Party, 1949
Woman's Rights Party
Platform: 1922
[Ed. Note: Contrary to what is often
taught, the women's movement didn't pass out of existence following the
winning of women's suffrage in 1920 in the United States. The women's movement
was alive and well, but suffered from a total blackout by the patriarchal
press. Following women's suffrage, the women's movement again split into
two main factions. One was the League of Women Voters, the brainchild of
Carrie Chapment Catt who was certain the way of the future was that of
women and that women had to be taught how to effectively use the vote.
The other part was the Women's Party headed by multi- millionaire Mrs.
Oliver H. P. Belmont and encompassed the activism of Alice Paul.
The following is the Declaration of Principles
of the Women's Party dated May 21, 1922 - read it and be VERY surprised
- and ask, "WHY aren't we taught this???"]
"WHEREAS, Women today, although enfranchised,
are still in every way subordinate to men before the law, in government,
in educational opportunities, in professions, in the church, in industry,
and in the home:
"BE IT RESOLVED, That as a part of our campaign
to remove all form of the subjection of women, we shall work for the following
immediate objects:
"That women shall no longer be regarded
and shall no longer regard themselves as inferior to men, but the equality
of the sexes shall be recognized.
"That women shall no longer be the governed
half of society, but shall participate equally with men in the direction
of life.
"That women shall no longer be denied
equal educational opportunities with men, but the same opportunities shall
be given to both sexes in all schools, colleges, and universities which
are supported in any way by public funds.
"That women shall no longer be barred
from any occupation, but every occupation to men shall be open to women
and restrictions upon the hours, conditions and remuneration of labor shall
apply alike to both sexes.
"That women shall no longer be discriminated
against in the legal, the medical, the teaching, or any other profession,
but the same opportunities shall be given to women as to men in training
for professions and in the practice of these professions.
"That women shall no longer be discriminated
against in civil and government service, but shall have the same right
as men to pay in the executive, the legislative, and the judicial branches
of the government service.
"That women shall no longer be discriminated
against in the foreign trade, consular and diplomatic service, but women
as well as men shall represent our country in foreign lands."
[Franklin, husband of Eleanor, appointed
the first woman ambassador in 1932. Note the dates and the calls for equality
and wonder why HIStorians are still trying to sell the American people
on the idea that the women's rights movement started in 1966 with the formation
of NOW. -- WiiN Ed.]
"That women shall
no longer receive less pay than men for the same work, but shall receive
equal compensation for equal work in public and private employment.
"That women shall no longer be barred
from the priesthood or ministry, or any position of authority in the church,
but equally with men shall participate in ecclesiastical offices and dignites.
"That a double moral standard shall no
longer exist, but one code shall obtain for both men and women.
"That exploitation of the sex of women
shall no longer exist, but women shall have the same right to control of
their persons as have men.
"That women shall no longer be discriminated
against in treatment of sex diseases and in punishment of sex offenses,
but men and women shall be treated in the same was for sex diseases and
sex offenses.
"That women shall no longer be deprived
of the right of trial by a jury of their peers, but jury service shall
be open to women as to men.
"That women shall no longer be disciminated
against in inheritance laws, but men and women shall have the same right
to inherit property.
[At this point I would invite you
to consider the points and realize what sort of life women ACTUALLY had
in 1921 - such as with inheritance, trial by jury of their peers (no women
allowed on juries!). Only 70 years ago: Ronald Reagan was a boy being raised
under these conditions; George Bush was a boy being raised under these
conditions ... Nixon... your grandfathers... fathers... who actually thought
the conditions which kept women close to slavery were normal! As are those
who think "family values" means the women having no rights.]
"That the identify
of the wife shall no longer be merged in that of her husband, but the wife
shall retain her separate identify after marriage and be able to contract
with her husband concerning the marriage relationship.
"That a woman shall no longer be REQUIRED
by law or custom to assume the name of her husband upon marriage but shall
have the same right as a man to retain her own name after marriage.
"That the wife shall no longer be considered
as supported by the husband, but their mutual contribution to the family
maintenance shall be recognized.
"That the headship of the family shall
no longer be in the husband alone, but shall be equally in the husband
and the wife.
"That the husband shall no longer own
his wife's services, but these shall belong to her alone as in the case
of any free person.
"That the husband shall no longer own
his wife's earnings, but these shall belong to her alone.
"That the husband shall no longer own
or control his wife's property, but it shall belong to her and be controlled
by her alone.
"That the husband shall no longer control
the joint property of his wife, but the wife shall have the right to obtain
divorce on the same grounds as the husband.
"That the husband shall no longer have
a greater right to make contracts than the wife, but a wife shall have
equal right with her husband to make contracts.
[Do the living conditions for women
revealed above appear to be at odds with the rights Americans were supposed
to have??? Yes, history has been very careful to NOT reveal what women's
lives were really like.]
"That married
women shall no longer be denied the right to choose their own citizenship,
but shall have the same independent choice of citizenship as is possessed
by their husbands.
"That women shall no longer be discriminated
against in the economic world because of marriage, but shall have the same
treatment in the economic world after marriage as have men.
"That the father shall no longer have
the paramount right to the care, custody, and control of the child, to
determine its education and religion, to the guardianship of its estate
and to the control of its services and earnings, but these rights shall
be shared equally by the father and mother in the case of all children,
whether born within or without the marriage ceremony.
[Ed. Note: This meant equal rights under the law to have
custody determined upon divorce or separation, and does not imply the outcome of "joint custody" upon separation or divorce. See the writings
and opinions of Stanton.]
"That no form of the Common Law or Civil
Law disabilities of women shall any longer exist, but women shall be equal
with men before the law.
"In short - That women shall no longer
be in any form of subjection to man in law to custom, but shall in every
way be on an equal plane in rights, as she has always been and will continue
to be, in responsibilities and obligations.
[Ed. Note: The Declaration of the
Woman's Party in 1922 followed the first declaration for Women's Rights
in the convention in Seneca Falls by 80 years and was in turn followed
40 years later by the declaration of intent of the National Organization
for Women in 1966. It is now more than 150 years since Seneca Falls and
women STILL don't have equal rights under the laws of the United States
of America!
Aimed at implementing the program of the Women's
Party of 1921, the following plan was developed. (Does it sound familiar,
NOW? Oh, we've come a long way, ladies, but we have so much further to
go. Without exception, the program for activism remains the same to this
date!)]:
THE OUTLINE OF THE Women's Party PLAN OF CAMPAIGN
is as follows:
"I. National Work - Make certain
that your United States Senators and your Congressmen give their whole-hearted
support and their vote to all Equal Rights legislation before Congress.
[When was the last time you wrote
your representatives in Washington?]
"II. State
Work - Make certain that your Senators and your Representatives in the
State Legislature give their whole-hearted support and their vote to All
Equal Rights legislation.
"III. Local Work - Make certain
that your own locality is at least one sport in the United States where
every girl that is born has an equal change in life with every boy and
where, throughout life, there are not handicaps of any kind placed upon
women because of their sex.
"To this end make certain:
"(1) That
women are nominated for all elective offices in your local community, your
county and your state, and are supported in the elections and are placed
equally with men in the offices which control the life of your community.
"(2) That
women are appointed equally with men to all appointive positions under
your local, your county, and your state government.
"(3) That
the same opportunities are given to girls as to boys in all schools, colleges,
and universities in your community which are supported in whole or in part
by public funds; that in these educational institutions girls have the
same opportunities as boys to study in all department; that entrance requirements
are equal; the opportunity for trade and vocational training is equal;
that opportunity for physical training and for entrance into the athletic
life of the institutions is equal; the opportunity for physical training
and for entrance into the athletic life of the institution is equal; that
opportunity for obtaining academic honors, scholarships, fellowships, and
all other honors is equal.
"(4) That
in your community, all occupations and professions, whether public or private,
are open to women on the same terms as to men; that women equally with
men are appointed to the administrative and other positions involving power
and high salaries; that women have the same opportunities to advancement
in these occupations and professions; that they are paid equally for the
same work; that they have equal opportunity to enter the Unions of their
trade and to participate in the government of the Unions; that women engaged
in business or working at any paid occupations are encouraged and supported;
that whenever public money is spent, women receive the appointments, contracts,
or commissions equally with men.
"(5) That
in the churches in your community women have an equal share with men in
the governing of the church, and in participation in the ministry and all
ecclesiastical offices and dignities.
"(6) That
in your community, the public sentiment supports a single moral and ethical
code for men and women, and that all actus which are considered dishonorable
or wrong in one sex, are considered the same in the other sex.
"(7) That
in your community one sex in no way preys upon the other by the white slave
trade; by forcing it into prostitution or in any other way; that men and
women receive the same examination, quarantine and treatment for sex diseases;
that when men and women are punished for sex offenses they are punished
in the same way for the same offense.
"(8) That
in your community married women are not dismissed from government service,
the schools, or from private employment because of their marriage."
[This concludes the activist advice
given in 1922 by the Women's Party.]
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