Arbiter of her Own Destiny
This piece was created to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment. It was printed on Crane's Lettra #220, which is tree free, thick and entirely luxurious. This was printed with a combination of antique wood and lead type, on an antique letterpress that is older than a woman's right to vote. At 6" x 6", it's perfectly framable.
This piece was created to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment. It was printed on Crane's Lettra #220, which is tree free, thick and entirely luxurious. This was printed with a combination of antique wood and lead type, on an antique letterpress that is older than a woman's right to vote. At 6" x 6", it's perfectly framable.
This piece was created to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment. It was printed on Crane's Lettra #220, which is tree free, thick and entirely luxurious. This was printed with a combination of antique wood and lead type, on an antique letterpress that is older than a woman's right to vote. At 6" x 6", it's perfectly framable.
'Arbiter of her own Destiny' is from Elizabeth Cady Stanton's speech, Solitude of Self, which is widely credited as the launch of the modern feminist movement. Here is an excerpt, which is also printed on the backing of this beautiful letterpress piece.
The point I wish plainly to bring before you on this occasion is the individuality of each human soul; our Protestant idea, the right of individual conscience and judgment--our republican idea, individual citizenship. In discussing the rights of woman, we are to consider, first, what belongs to her as an individual, in a world of her own, the arbiter of her own destiny, an imaginary Robinson Crusoe with her woman Friday on a solitary island. Her rights under such circumstances are to use all her faculties for her own safety and happiness. Secondly, if we consider her as a citizen, as a member of a great nation, she must have the same rights as all other members, according to the fundamental principles of our Government. Thirdly, viewed as a woman, an equal factor in civilization, her rights and duties are still the same--individual happiness and development.
SOLITUDE OF SELF
Address Delivered by Mrs. Stanton at the age of 77 Before the Committee of the Judiciary of the United States Congress Monday, January 18, 1892
The entire speech can be found at https://voicesofdemocracy.umd.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Stanton-Intrepretive-Essay.pdf
While all women were granted the right to vote in 1920, women of color continued to fight the widely spread and racially motivated voter suppression tactics employed against them until the Voting Rights Act passed in 1965. I celebrate the initial victory in 1920 while holding space for the fact that the fight for equality was not finished then and it is not finished now.