Murray states "our souls are by nature equal to yours." Who is the 'our' and 'your'? How is
this linked to the Enlightenment?
What was Murray's response to conventional views regarding women?
What is the relationship between women's 'domestick duties' and their equality?
"We must be constantly upon our guard, prudence and discretion must
be our characteristics; and we must rise superior to, and obtain a
complete victory over those who have a contemptible opinion of the sex"
What is she saying women must do?
Some historians refer to Murray as one of the founding leaders of the women's rights
movement. In your opinion, is that an accurate assessment? Why?
with that there is a pleasure whic
be partakers of
**
.than 1
Were she and her family genuinely independent? Why or why not?
have experienced these four or five years past." What do you think made her
happy? What did her happiness suggest about her previous life in Phila.
delphia?
DOCUMENT 9-3
Judith Sargent Murray Insists on the
Equality of the Sexes
Born in 1751 to a respectable family in Gloucester, Massachusetts, Judith Sargent Murray
responded to her disappointment when her father sent her brother to Harvard College by
immersing herself in her father's library and educating herself. After marrying at age
eighteen, she lived through the turmoil of the American Revolution. Her husband fled to
the West Indies in 1786 to avoid prosecution for debts, and died there. Judith soon remar-
ried and settled in Salem, Massachusetts, with her husband and minister, James Murray,
She frequently contributed anonymous essays and poems to periodicals, sometimes adopt-
ing a female and sometimes a male pseudonym. For her most famous essay, excerpted
below, she used the pen name "Constantia." She ridiculed the notion that men were inher-
ently superior to women and championed equality of the sexes. Her writings ultimately
brought her to the attention of many famous citizens, including George Washington and
John and Abigail Adams.
On the Equality of the Sexes, 1790
Is it upon mature consideration we adopt the idea that nature is thus partial
in her distributions? Is it indeed a fact, that she hath yielded to one half of the
human species so unquestionable a mental superiority? I know that to both sexes
elevated understandings, and the reverse, are common. But, suffer me to ask, in
what the minds of females are so notoriously deficient, or unequal. May not the
intellectual powers be ranged under these four heads-imagination, reason,
memory and judgment. The province of imagination hath long since been sur-
rendered to us, and we have been crowned and undoubted sovereigns of the
Magazine, or, Monthly Museum Concerning the Literature, History, Politics, Arts, Manners,
From Judith Sargent Murray, "On the Equality of the Sexes," The Massachusetts
Amusements of the Age, Vol. II, 1790, 132-35, 223-26.
THE NEW NATION TAKES FORM, 1789-1800
175
regions of fancy. Invention is perhaps the most arduous effort of the mind; this
branch of imagination hath been particularly ceded to us, and we have been time
out of mind invested with that creative faculty. Observe the variety of fashions
(here I bar the contemptuous smile) which distinguish and adorn the female
world: how continually are they changing, insomuch that they almost render the
under the sun...
wise man's assertion problematical, and we are ready to say, there is something new
Another instance of our creative powers, is our talent for slander; how inge-
nious are we at inventive scandal? what a formidable story can we in a moment
fabricate merely from the force of a prolifick imagination? how many reputations,
in the fertile brain of a female, have been utterly despoiled? how industrious are
we at improving a hint? suspicion how easily do we convert into conviction, and
conviction, embellished by the power of eloquence, stalks abroad to the surprise
and confusion of unsuspecting innocence. Perhaps it will be asked if I furnish
these facts as instances of excellency in our sex. Certainly not; but as proofs of a
creative faculty, of a lively imagination. Assuredly great activity of mind is thereby
discovered, and was this activity properly directed, what beneficial effects would
follow. Is the needle and kitchen sufficient to employ the operations of a soul thus
organized? I should conceive not, Nay, it is a truth that those very departments
leave the intelligent principle vacant, and at liberty for speculation. Are we defi-
cient in reason? we can only reason from what we know, and if an opportunity of
acquiring knowledge hath been denied us, the inferiority of our sex cannot fairly
be deduced from thence. Memory, I believe, will be allowed us in common.
"But our judgment is not so strong-we do not distinguish so well." ---- Yet it
may be questioned, from what doth this superiority, in this determining faculty of
the soul, proceed. May we not trace its source in the difference of education, and
continued advantages? Will it be said that the judgment of a male of two years old,
is more sage than that of a female's of the same age? I believe the reverse is gen-
erally observed to be true. But from that period what partiality! how is the one
exalted, and the other depressed, by the contrary modes of education which are
adopted! the one is taught to aspire, and the other is early confined and limitted.
As their years increase, the sister must be wholly domesticated, while the brother
is led by the hand through all the flowery paths of science. Grant that their minds
are by nature equal, yet who shall wonder at the apparent superiority, if indeed
At length arrived at womanhood, the unculti-
custom becomes second nature. ...
vated fair one feels a void, which the employments allotted her are by no means
capable of filling. What can she do? to books she may not apply; or if she doth, to
those only of the novel kind, lest she merit the appellation of a learned lady; and what
ideas have been affixed to this term, the observation of many can testify. Fashion,
scandal, and sometimes what is still more reprehensible, are then called in to her
relief
; and who can say to what lengths the liberties she takes may proceed. Mean-
times she herself is most unhappy; she feels the want of a cultivated mind. Is she
single, she in vain seeks to fill up time from sexual employments or amusements.
Is she united to a person whose soul nature made equal to her own, education
hath set him so far above her, that in those entertainments which are productive
of such rational felicity, she is not qualified to accompany him. She experiences a
mortifying consciousness of inferiority
, which embitters every enjoyment
. Doth
the person to whom her adverse fate hath consigned her
, possess a mind incapa-
ble of improvement, she is equally wretched, in being so closely connected with
an individual whom she cannot but despise. Now, was she permitted the same
instructors as her brother, (with an eye however to their particular departments)
READING THE AMERICAN PAST
176
for the employment of a rational mind an ample field would be
opened... A
mind, thus filled, would have little room for the trifles with which our sex are,
with too much justice, accused of amusing themselves, and they would thus be
rendered fit companions for those, who should one day wear them as their crown.
Fashions, in their variety, would then give place to conjectures, which might per-
leisure for slander or detraction. Reputation would not then be blasted, but seri-
haps conduce to the improvements of the literary world, and there would be no
ous speculations would occupy the lively imaginations of the sex. Unnecessary
visits would only be indulged by way of relaxation, or to answer the demands of
consanguinity and friendship. Females would become discreet, their judgments
would be invigorated, and their partners for life being circumspectly chosen, an
Will it be urged that those acquirements would supersede our domestick
artful
our c
over
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unhappy Hymen would then be as rare, as is now the reverse.
femal
the ha
ness;
the fl
please
insiste
reply,
is froi
duties. I answer that every requisite in female economy is easily attained
; and
with truth I can add, that when once attained, they require no further mental atten
.
tion. Nay, while we are pursuing the needle, or the superintendency of the family
I repeat, that our minds are at full liberty for reflection; that imagination may exert
itself in full vigor; and that if a just foundation is early laid, our ideas will then be
worthy of rational beings. If we were industrious we might easily find time to
arrange them
upon paper, or should avocations press too hard for such an indul-
gence, the hours allotted for conversation would at least become more refined and
rational. Should it still be vociferated, "Your domestick employments are suffi-
cient" - I would calmly ask, is it reasonable, that a candidate for immortality, for
the joys of heaven, an intelligent being, who is to spend an eternity in contemplat-
ing the works of the Deity, should at present be so degraded, as to be allowed no
other ideas, than those which are suggested by the mechanism of a pudding, or
the sewing the seams of a garment?
Yes, ye lordly, ye haughty sex, our souls are by nature equal to yours; the same
breath of God animates, enlivens, and invigorates us; and that we are not fallen
lower than yourselves, let those witness who have greatly towered above the vari-
ous discouragements by which they have been so heavily oppressed; and though I
am unacquainted with the list of celebrated characters on either side, yet from the
observations I have made in the contracted circle in which I have moved, I dare
confidently believe, that from the commencement of time to the present day, there
hath been as many females, as males, who, by the mere force of natural powers, have
merited the crown of applause; who, thus unassisted, have seized the wreath of
fame.
But waving this ... advantage, for equality only, we wish to contend.
The exquisite delicacy of the female mind proclaimeth the exactness of its
texture, while its nice sense of honour announceth its innate, its native grandeur.
And indeed, in one respect, the preeminence seems to be tacitly allowed us; for
sites
unfrie
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prove
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to the
partie
ated,
those
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selves
QUEST
1. Ho
she
2. W
tior
3. Ho
after an education which limits and confines, and employments and recreations
which naturally tend to enervate the body, and debilitate the mind; after we have
from early youth been adorned with ribbons, and other gewgaws, dressed out like
the ancient victims previous to a sacrifice, being taught by the care of our parents
to be the principal object of our attention; after, I say, fifteen years thus spent,
are introduced into the world, amid the united adulation of every beholder. Praise
is sweet to the soul; we are immediately intoxicated by large draughts of flattery
which being plentifully administered, is to the pride of our hearts, the most
acceptable incense. It is expected that with the other sex we should commence
immediate war, and that we should triumph over the machinations of the most
"w
be
4. To
inc
5. Dic
pro
THE NEW NATION TAKES FORM, 1789-1800
177
female bosom.
artful. We must be constantly upon our guard; prudence and discretion must be
our characteristiks; and we must rise superiour to, and obtain a complete victory
over those who have been long adding to the native strength of their minds, by an
unremitted study of men and books, and who have, moreover, conceived from the
loose characters which they have seen portrayed in the extensive variety of their
reading, a most contemptible opinion of the sex.... And if we are allowed an
equality of acquirements, let serious studies equally employ our minds, and we
will bid our souls arise to equal strengths. We will meet upon even ground, the
despot man; we will rush with alacrity to the combat, and, crowned by success,
we shall then answer the exalted expectations, which are formed....
[S]ensibility, soft compassion, and gentle commiseration, are inmates in the
If we meet an equal, a sensible friend, we will reward him with
the hand of amity, and through life we will be assiduous to promote his happi-
ness; but from every deep laid scheme, for our ruin, retiring into ourselves, amid
the flowery paths of science, we will indulge in all the refined and sentimental
pleasures of contemplation: And should it still be urged, that the studies thus
insisted upon would interfere with our more peculiar department, I must further
reply, that early hours, and close application, will do wonders; and to her who
is from the first dawn of reason taught to fill up time rationally, both the requi-
sites will be easy. I grant that niggard [selfish or stingy) fortune is too generally
unfriendly to the mind; and that much of that valuable treasure, time, is necessar-
ily expended upon the wants of the body; but it should be remembered; that in
embarrassed circumstances our companions have as little leisure for literary im-
provements, as is afforded to us. ... Nay, we have even more leisure for seden-
tary pleasures, as our avocations are more retired, much less laborious, and, as
hath been observed, by no means require that avidity of attention which is proper
to the employments of the other sex. In high life, or, in other words, where the
parties are in possession of affluence, the objection respecting time is wholly obvi-
ated, and of course falls to the ground; and it may also be repeated, that many of
those hours which are at present swallowed up in fashion and scandal, might be
redeemed, were we habituated to useful reflections. But in one respect, O ye arbi-
ters of our fate! we confess that the superiority is indubitably yours; you are by
nature formed for our protectors; we pretend not to vie with you in bodily
strength; upon this point we will never contend for victory. Shield us then, we
beseech you, from external evils, and in return we will transact your domestick
affairs
. Yes, your, for are you not equally interested in those matters with our-
selves?
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QUESTIONS FOR READING AND DISCUSSION
How did Murray criticize the views of "ye lordly, ye haughty sex"? Why did
she emphasize that “our souls are by nature equal to yours"?
2. What was Murray's response to conventional views about women's "imagina-
or
te
ke
tion, reason, memory and judgment"?
3. How did education and child rearing contribute to Murray's observation,
7715
who shall wonder at the apparent superiority ſof men), if indeed custom
ght
#
becomes second nature"?
4. To what extent did Murray believe that the "domestick duties" of women were
ent
in conflict with their equality?
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