A Feminist a Day: Susan B Anthony

Who is she?

Susan B. Anthony was an American feminist and social reformer who fought for women’s suffrage and against slavery.

She founded the National Woman Suffrage Association and published a women’s newspaper called The Revolution (right on!).

In 1872 she was arrested for voting in her hometown, and refused to pay the fine. In 1878, Susan and her friend Elizabeth Cady Stanton arranged for Congress to be given the amendment giving women the vote (the 19th Amendment) – it wasn’t adopted until 1920.

She was a tireless speaker on the issue of women’s rights until her death. She never married (“I never felt I could give up my life of freedom to become a man’s housekeeper.”) and her words “failure is impossible” became a motto for the women’s movement at the time.

She didn’t live to see women nationally get the vote in the US, but did see it happen in Utah, Colorado, Wyoming and Idaho.

Why should we thank her?

Susan dedicated her life to women’s rights and though many women fought for suffrage in the US, she is considered the key organiser of the movement.

Best quote

“It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union.”

*That quote is from this speech that she gave after being arrested and tried for voting illegally in 1873. It’s incredible.

Fun Fact

My favourite Susan B. Anthony pop culture reference is on the TV show Community, when Britta wants to hold a Susan B. Anthony dance, and instead holds a Sophie B. Hawkins dance. Don’t watch Community? You should. It’s awesome.