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6 speechatthe new england social reform society Convention: “aWord to My sisters” May 30, 1844 Boston, Massachusetts The New England Social Reform Society was created to discuss and compare the many utopian communities springing up in New York and New England, and to attract support in particular for Community Place (1843 to 1846) at Mottville, New York, a suburb of Skaneateles. Community Place was created on the Owenite model, and Ernestine Rose and John Collins often spoke on its behalf, while William Rose raised funds for the community. Though they were active on behalf of the Community , the Roses never actually lived there. This may be Rose’s first recorded speech on women—one that ties her ideas on women’s enforced dependency and lack of rights to her Owenite socialist principles. She had spoken earlier at this convention of the New England Social Reform Society , on freethought and on socialism, and was ready to talk about women. John Collins, who issued the call to the convention, had been a prominent abolitionist agent in New York State. He became so convinced of the primacy of “the property question” that he turned his attention to the creation and development of this Owenite community. However, as Rose mentions in the next document, his leadership style created controversy which frequently roiled the community. One example of a conflict where Rose and Collins disagreed was the wisdom of registering their deed to the community’s land. Collins preferred not to acknowledge property rights under the auspices of the state, but Rose insisted that they do so. Thus when the community failed within three years, the members were able to salvage their investment along with a small profit due to a rise in property values. n Mrs. Rose . . . had a word to say to her sisters.—She need not advise them to stay away from the polls. This was a vice with which their lords would not allow them to meddle, though they were willing to deluge the land in blood, to secure this privilege for themselves. But women did give their influence in favor of this, the tyrant’s weapon.—She besought them not only to discourage and discountenance forceful governments in every shape, form and manner, that they might be presented, but, also, to use every moral and virtuous means in their power to bring into odium, to break down this popular religion which was absorbing the people’s sympathy, time and means; which directed 6 1840–1850 their hopes and attractions from earth to heaven, and from the present to a future life. The clergy and the church don’t recognize your right, my sisters, continued Mrs. R., to speak publicly or in the church. Speak, then, not in their favor. They say, that in your appropriate sphere—in the nursery and private circle, you have an all powerful influence—exercise it for their destruction, and for your own elevation, and for that of the race. What rights have women? Are they not the merest slaves on earth? What of freedom have they? In government they are not known, but to be punished for breaking laws in which they have no voice in making. All avenues to enterprise and honor are closed against them. If poor, they must drudge for a mere pittance—If of the wealthy classes, they must be dressed dolls of fashion—parlor puppets,—female things. When single, they must be dependent on their parents or brothers, and when married, swallowed up in their husbands. Nothing of nobleness, dignity and elevation is allowed to exist in the female. All such traits in her are indelicate and unbecoming. A few are allowed to thrum the keys in a piano—to smatter a little French or Italian—to do cunning needlework—to study the combined colors of the rainbow—but then how masculine, indelicate, and unwomanlike for her to pry into the heavier sciences—into the falsely —so-called sciences of politics and religion. She may lean upon a gentleman ’s arm, but to travel alone would be immodest and vulgar.This state of society does not recognize woman’s equality. Her living is in the hands of man. My sisters, speak out for yourselves. Tyrants never will willingly relinquish their grasp. All that the lords of creation will yield will be what they are forced to by public sentiment. “Know ye not, who would be free Himself must strike the blow.” This property system, while he [sic] is allowed to...

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