The First Male Feminist

The First Male Feminist                                                         

            How can we describe who or what a feminist looks like? According to Zillian R. Eisenstein, in her 1984 Feminism and Sexual Equality book discussing the state of feminism in the 1980’s America, “The basic liberal feminist demands for women’s equality before the law” (p.12). A feminist is also described as an outraged citizen who demands attention for women. Feminist is also defined as only a “female” kind of thing, but who is to say that a man cannot be a feminist?

            Frederick Douglass is an African-American abolitionist, activist, writer, and slave. The reader will discover powerful women’s rights opinions supported by his writings from American author Philip S. Foner’s, Frederick Douglass on Women’s Rights.  

For example, May 26, 1848, two months before the Seneca Falls Convention, a woman is defined by nature, fitted to occupy a position as elevated and dignified as her self-created master (The North Star).

As the reader continues to follow, the views on women begin to change in fast measures. During the Seneca Falls Convention Frederick Douglass says, “The speaking, addresses, and resolutions of this extraordinary meeting was wholly conducted women; and although they evidently felt themselves in a novel position, it is but simple justice to say that their whole proceedings were characterized by ability and dignity” (p.49-50).

Talks of the Declaration Sentiments were the basis of the grand movement which were the basis of the grand movement which attained civil, social, political, and religious rights of women. Furthermore, a discussion on animal rights is said to be regarded far more complacency than would a discussion on women rights.

A woman is of equal value as a man and therefore, there should be no biased rulings that women cannot partake in administering laws of the land.

Douglass sums up his view of women in the following passage written in August of 1848; “The almoners (pastors) of the race of man, superior to the opposite of sex in all the offices of benevolence and kindness, fully equal in moral, mental and intellectual endowments, in short, entitled to an equal participancy in all the designs and accomplishments allotted to man during his career on earth” (p.49).

A journey through Frederick Douglass’s legacy will allow the reader to fully understand his views on women rights.

 It is reported in Foner, that Douglass’s first experience learning about anti-slavery began at the age of twelve when Mrs. Thomas Auld, his master’s wife, began teaching him the alphabet and how to read against her husband’s wishes. Mr. Auld was of the opinion that if slaves began to learn such things, they would all desire freedom and become unhappy with his or her condition. I find it ironic that it was a woman, his master’s wife who gave him the tools to free himself, his people, and to advocate for the quality of women.

As his appetite for reading increased, he discovered that white women were no better off politically than African-American slaves.  It was his views on equality that made him the most famous African-American in the country.

            On July 19, 1848 the first women’s rights convention was held in a chapel in Seneca Falls, New York. Well over two hundred women and thirty-two men crowded the room and of the thirty-two men only one would play a prominent role in women’s rights. Frederick Douglass, a slave born in Maryland, fought for, not only anti-slavery, but for equal treatment of the country without regard for their race.

Frederick Douglass can be considered a feminist during his era because of his stance on women rights. His beliefs and respect for equality for all human beings created a powerful movement for all citizens of the United States. Douglass became known as a women’s rights leader when he graciously refused to accept the voting right for all black men. To him it was a disgrace to women and women deserved the equality a man possessed in society.

Foner calls Douglass “The only man I ever saw who understood the degradation of the disfranchisement of women” (Foner, 1). Foner also reports that Douglass spoke and wrote resolutely on the need for women to reach their full potential by participating in every phase of American society as well as in all the decisions shaping that society (p.2). Douglass was proud to be black and he was proud of himself for what he called a, “woman’s right man”. Along with helping the white women, he encouraged them to realize that black women also suffered, in a white-male dominated country.

In August of 1848, Douglass spoke that the true basis of rights is, “the capacity of individuals, and as for himself he dared not claim a right which he would not concede to women” (Foner, 51).  Douglass believed that men and women were identical, regardless of color politically. He strongly believed that all rights should stand on an “indestructible basis” regardless of gender.

On October 30, 1851, he stated that “We advocate woman’s rights, not because she is an angel, but because she is a woman, having the same wants, and being exposed to the same evils as man” (Foner, 55). This statement alone allows the reader to acknowledge that his politics and where they stood were of strong and passionate beliefs.

Douglass not only fought for women’s rights, but he praised women for their contribution to society. In a letter to Ida B. Wells, he said, “Brave woman! You have done your people and mine a service which can neither be weighed nor measured” (Foner, 152).

In a letter that he had written to Harriet Beecher Stowe, the reputable author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin., it is apparent that he followed brave women such as her throughout their success. He congratulated her on such work and assured that every African-American man will be forever grateful for her strong and passionate words.

Though Douglass was an honorable man, issues began to arise at the height of his career as a women’s rights leader.

The issues arose between Douglass, his wife, Anne and Julia Griffiths, a British abolitionist that worked closely with him. It was said that Griffiths and Douglass were having sexual relations and William Lloyd Garrison, an American Abolitionist and colleague to Douglass, was said to have been the cause of the issues.

“For several years past, he [Douglass] has had one of the worst advisers in his printing-office, whose influence over him has not only caused much unhappiness in his own household” (Foner, 20).  

Susan B. Anthony, who was an American women’s rights leader, had once been a friend to Anne and Frederick Douglass supported Garrison and also demonstrated hatred towards the Douglass family and Julia Griffiths.

“Anna did not to my certain knowledge, intend that letter to cover all the essentials of the Liberator charge—for she declared to Amy Post, who happened to call there at the time it was concocted by Frederick and Julia; that she would never sign a paper that said, Julia had not made her trouble. Said she, Garrison is right—it is Julia that has made Frederick hate all of his friends—Said she, I don’t care anything about her in my office—but I won’t have her in my house” (Foner, 21)

This issue raised a small controversy among Douglass and his wife until her death in 1882. However, he did not allow the differences of women’s rights leaders come between his ways of supporting the woman’s cause.

In some occasions, it seemed that Douglass was more passionate and aware of women’s rights than African-American rights.  Douglass envisioned a perfect community and a perfect world that was unified.

In The Norton Anthology of African-American Literature it states that “Douglass’s literary artistry invested this model of selfhood with a moral and political authority that subsequent aspirants to the role of African American culture hero” (p.387).

            At a time when most men and even women were complacent about the idea of women’s rights, Frederick Douglass stood out by raising his voice, working alongside women’s rights leaders and by continuing to speak and write passionately about his beliefs on the political equality of all people regardless of race and gender.

                                                            Work Cited

Foner, Philip. Frederick Douglass on Women’s Rights. Connecticut: Greenwood Press.

            1976.

Eisentein, Zillah. Feminism and Sexual Equality: Crisis in Liberal America. Monthly Review Press.

            1984.

Gates, Henry and Nellie McKay. The Norton Anthology of African American Literature.

            New York: Norton. 2004.

Meyer, Michael. Frederick Douglass: The Narrative and Selected Writings.

            New York: Random House. 1984.