Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE ANTI-SUFFRAGISTS, by CHARLOTTE PERKINS STETSON GILMAN Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Fashionable women in luxurious homes Last Line: To great democracy and womanhood! Alternate Author Name(s): Stetson, Charlotte Perkins Subject(s): Americans; Elections; United States; Women; Women's Rights; Voting; Voters; Suffrage; America; Feminism | ||||||||
Fashionable women in luxurious homes, With men to feed them, clothe them, pay their bills, Bow, doff the hat, and fetch the handkerchief; Hostess or guest; and always so supplied With graceful deference and courtesy; Surrounded by their horses, servants, dogs- These tell us they have all the rights they want. Successful women who have won their way Alone, with strength of their unaided arm, Or helped by friends, or softly climbing up By the sweet aid of "woman's influence"; Successful any way, and caring naught For any other woman's unsuccess- These tell us they have all the rights they want. Religious women of the feebler sort- Not the religion of a righteous world, A free, enlightened, upward-reaching world, But the religion that considers life As something to back out of !- whose ideal Is to renounce, submit, and sacrifice. Counting on being patted on the head And given a high chair when they get to heaven- These tell us they have all the rights they want. Ignorant women-college bred sometimes, But ignorant of life's realities And principles of righteous government, And how the privileges they enjoy Were won with blood and tears by those before- Those they condemn, whose ways they now oppose; Saying, "Why not let well enough alone?" Our world is very pleasant as it is"- These tell us they have all the rights they want. And selfish women-pigs in petticoats- Rich, poor, wise, unwise, top or bottom round, But all sublimely innocent of thought, And guiltless of ambition, save the one Deep, voiceless aspiration-to be fed! These have no use for rights or duties more. Duties today are more than they can meet, And law insures their right to clothes and food- These tell us they have all the rights they want. And, more's the pity, some good women too; Good, conscientious women with ideas; Who think-or think they think-that woman's cause Is best advanced by letting it alone; That she somehow is not a human thing, And not to be helped on by human means, Just added to humanity-an "L"- A wing, a branch, an extra, not mankind- These tell us they have all the rights they want. And out of these has come a monstrous thing, A strange, down-sucking whirlpool of disgrace, Women uniting against womanhood, And using that great name to hide their sin! Vain are their words as that old king's command Who set his will against the rising tide. But who shall measure the historic shame Of these poor traitors-traitors are they all- To great Democracy and Womanhood! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE RIGHTS OF WOMAN by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD THE RIGHTS OF WOMAN by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD HEMATITE HEIRLOOM LIVES ON (MAYBE DECEMBER 1980) by ALICE NOTLEY ON THE BEACH by CLARIBEL ALEGRIA FEMINIST POEM NUMBER ONE by ELIZABETH ALEXANDER HYPOCRITE SWIFT by LOUISE BOGAN FOR A GODCHILD, REGINA, ON THE OCCASION OF HER FIRST LOVE by TOI DERRICOTTE HESTER'S SONG by TOI DERRICOTTE A CONSERVATIVE by CHARLOTTE PERKINS STETSON GILMAN |
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