Over the course of the semester we have read three very different books but learned about similar situations, obstacles, and struggles in "minority groups." The groups include women, African-Americans, and Native-Americans. All of these people struggled for their freedom and equal rights. Many succeeded in some areas, but others never had a fair chance. .
Through the study of Abigail Adams, we learned about women and their place in society, if they had a place at all. In the 1700's, a woman's place was to be a wife and mother. Women were always viewed as their husbands' wives, and not individuals. Their jobs were to take care of the family, cook, clean, and educate the children. Before Abigail could do this, she needed to be educated herself. She lived in a society that held the traditional belief that woman was less than man was. Abigail refused to believe this and wanted to make a difference. Through Akers, we see Abigail Adams as a woman with strength, courage, and determination. He viewed her as a woman unlike any other and believed no one could match her experience. Abigail Adams faced many struggles while trying to gain "equal" rights for women. When I discuss equal rights, I do not mean exactly like men's rights, but similar. Abigail never wanted the same rights as her husband, just equal opportunities in her own role. One example is education. She believed that she deserved the chance to be educated as her husband John was. After all, it was her place to educate the children. She insisted that women are "rational beings" and deserve an education. She thought that increasing the number of accomplished women would break down the masculine monopoly of education. In her "Code of Laws" that she wrote to John, she pleaded with him to "remember the ladies." She believed that men should not hold unlimited power and women should be able to make their own decisions on important matters.
