“The strongest reason why we ask for a woman to have a voice in the government under which she lives; in the religion she is asked to believe; equality in social life, where she is the chief factor; a place in the trades and professions, where she may earn her bread; is because of her birthright to self-sovereignty; because, as an individual, she must rely on herself.” Elizabeth Cady Stanton, President of the National Woman Suffrage Association, 1869–1880.
Elizabeth Stanton led the fight for a woman’s right to vote, and as a woman of faith she boldly advocated for stronger and more positive images of women biblical figures and composed The Woman’s Bible, a written commentary challenging the negative stereotypes of women in the Bible. For a woman of her time, this was extraordinarily progressive. She was an advocate for all women, whom she believed deserved a voice in their religion, their government, and their society as a whole.
When have you stood up and asked to be heard?
This message is excerpted from “I am she” a 2009 resource of the Women of the ELCA. Today is the 19th Sunday after Pentecost.
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