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Abigail Adams advocates for women
USA: While John Adams is serving on the Continental Congress, his wife, Abigail Adams urges in one of their correspondence to "remember the ladies." She also mentioned that if the status of women remained the same, they'd protest and rebel. (1) -
Sati Regulation, XVII of 1827
India: Lord William Bentinck found the custom of Sati deplorable thus declaring it illegal and punishable by the court of law. This is the first of many regulations, bans and true opposition of the barbaric act of forcing a women to commit suicide by fire at her husband's funeral. (2) -
Ain't I A Woman?
USA: Born a slave, Isabella Baumfree escaped to achieve many feats, most notably becoming Sojourner Truth. Originally untitled, she delivered "Ain't I A Woman" at Women's Convention held in Akron, OH. Truth's ultimately becomes an activist and reformer for slavery and women's rights. (3) -
Foot Binding
China: In the late 1800's, approximately 60 Chrisitan Xiamen women called for a ban of foot binding. Deeply rooted in Chinese tradition,the patriarchal system that limited the movement of women would finally be banned after the fall of the Qing Dynasty. (4) *There's no exact date except the ban was signed early 1911 however for this exercise, the generic date of 1/1/1911 is used. Also note, some research sites indicates the ban was early 1912. -
Women get Voting Rights
USA: 41 years after Anthony and Cady Stanton drafted the first amendment for women's right to vote, Congress received enought state votes to ratify the 19th Amendment giving women full voting rights. (5) -
Igbo Women's War
Nigeria: Women in southeastern Nigeria became fed up with their community's state of affairs after British colonization that they became organized and took on the Warrant Chiefs, the Igbo representative appointed by the British. These women protested and held strikes for equal treatment and although the British struck back with violence, the month long protest forced the Warrant Chiefs' hands creating a turnaround in the tribe allowing women to be appointed on the Tribal Court. (6) -
National Council of Negro Women (NCNW)
USA: Educator Mary McLeod Bethune founds the NCNW to represent the national and international needs of Black women to include social justice and human rights. (7) *Although the exact date is unclear, this exercise requires the date, month and year therefore the generic 1 January is being used. -
Reform in the Middle East
Bahrain: After a constitution amendment, King Hamad initiated political reforms giving women the right to vote, equal education, health care, and property among other provisions such as being afforded the right to have access to justice and get a fair trial. (8)
