Women’s History Month: Matilda Joslyn Gage

Gage isn't featured in this photo, but it's a classic and I love it.

In honor of women’s history month last March I wrote a couple of blog posts for Jerk and Feministing.com about Matilda Joslyn Gage, an unknown suffragist who greatly contributed to securing women’s right to vote but ended up getting screwed over by her “friends” and left out of history books.

I still haven’t forgotten about this kick-ass lady, and in order to honor her this year I wrote Ms. Gage a letter explaining why I think she rocks.

Dear Matilda,

I have now spent over one year of my life studying you and being aware of your awesome existence. I had the opportunity to be taught all about your life’s work from Sally Roesch Wagner, another amazing woman who has dedicated her life to restoring your name in history.

A Champion Lost in History

Women's History Month, know it, celebrate it...

In the spirit of discussion about gender, politics, and women’s history month, I thought a throwback to the birth of it all would be appropriate. If you think ya’ll know the truth about the women’s suffrage movement, I’m about to school you.

This semester I made one of the best decisions of my life—accidentally. In order to fulfill a requirement for my Women’s Studies major as well as my Honors core, I enrolled in WSP 200: The History of the Women’s Suffrage Movement through Matilda Joslyn Gage. It appealed to me from the start, but I had no idea I was going to be learning about such fascinating details of the women’s suffrage movement that I was completely unaware of.

I was unaware because they were intentionally left out of our history books. What’s even more shocking is the fact that women are responsible for this. WOMEN! Wouldn’t you assume that such a historical struggle would cause great closeness between the primary individuals involved? Although it’s wishful thinking, it’s NOT the case.

Matilda Joslyn Gage was a female suffragist who was a part of a close friendship trio between herself, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Susan B. Anthony. The three were an unstoppable combination when it came to “fighting the man.” They wrote editorials, created political parties, and organized an entire movement that eventually led to my ability to vote in the 2008 Presidential election.