There once was a world in which everyone KNEW
female children were less intelligent and less able than male children
...a world in which girls were encased in corsets laced so tightly that
their stomachs, hearts and livers were twisted and displaced, and their
ribs were broken and misaligned. In such clothing it was impossible
to run, jump or play, but that was considered appropriate for girls
because it prepared them for their place in life. In this world,
girl children, no matter how bright, were not allowed to go to college, although
when they grew up, they were taxed for the upkeep of those colleges.
In this world when girls and women took jobs to support themselves and
their families they were paid only one-fifth to one-tenth as much as men
made for the same work--because everyone KNEW that women were always
supported by their fathers or husbands. In fact, two thirds of
American women and girls were never supported by anyone; they worked from
their earliest years throughout their lives--always knowing that they and
their daughters would never be able to get an education or better their
condition.
Not a pretty picture, is it?
But in this world, there was also a woman who KNEW that both boys and
girls were human and were naturally good companions. She KNEW that
girls needed to grow up healthy and strong, get a good education in any
field they had a talent for, and be able to vote for elected leaders, just
as boys did.
This woman was Amelia Jenks Bloomer--and she is known in history as the
first woman to wear trousers--a man's costume!--in public. She was
editor and publisher of the first women's issues newspaper in the world,
"The Lily".
You will be proud to know Amelia Bloomer as your own foremother!
