Eliza Burt Gamble: The Feminist Party
Eliza Burt Gamble was born and raised in Michigan during the
nineteenth century. She was a teacher in the Concord school district and then
became the superintendent at East Saginaw schools (1). Her own education, however, seems to be a
mystery. There is no evidence of a
university degree so it seems Eliza Burt Gamble was home schooled or very well
self-taught. She always had a strong
feminist stance, fully supporting the idea of female equality and independence,
and even gender supremacy.
Her stance in this election will have come from her background in the education system and her feminist views on politics and evolution. Burt Gamble and her husband, James, shared an economic view of socialism. Writing for the Detroit Free Press, Gamble expressed her opinions on several of these largely controversial issues.
In the nineteenth century she would have to fight for many of these issues to even be considered by the public. She was an active women’s suffragist, participating in rallies and speaking at conferences. Her belief that “the female organization (was) in no wise inferior to that of the male,” (1) led her to the research and criticisms of Charles Darwin; this includes his theory of evolution and the superior male. Eliza Burt Gamble was an essentialist feminist; she used evidence in biology for women’s superiority. Even though it appears that Gamble was quite radical, especially for her time, she still believed in marriage. She and her husband were supportive of each other; he was an entrepreneur and she as an activist and educator.
Her stance in this election will have come from her background in the education system and her feminist views on politics and evolution. Burt Gamble and her husband, James, shared an economic view of socialism. Writing for the Detroit Free Press, Gamble expressed her opinions on several of these largely controversial issues.
In the nineteenth century she would have to fight for many of these issues to even be considered by the public. She was an active women’s suffragist, participating in rallies and speaking at conferences. Her belief that “the female organization (was) in no wise inferior to that of the male,” (1) led her to the research and criticisms of Charles Darwin; this includes his theory of evolution and the superior male. Eliza Burt Gamble was an essentialist feminist; she used evidence in biology for women’s superiority. Even though it appears that Gamble was quite radical, especially for her time, she still believed in marriage. She and her husband were supportive of each other; he was an entrepreneur and she as an activist and educator.
Abortion
As an activist of women’s rights, we assume that Eliza Burt Gamble is also an activist of women’s reproductive health. During her lifetime in the nineteenth century, abortion was looked down upon. This was based on the views of women’s sexual interactions- they were not supposed to like it or have sex outside of marriage. With her radical feminist views, she would likely support pro-choice activism during the nineteenth century. As the pro-choice movement progresses in the twenty-first century it is assumed that Eliza Burt Gamble would give full support.
Eugenics
Gamble would oppose the practice of eugenics in both centuries. Eugenics’ aim is to eliminate inferior human genes through restricted marriages, forced abortions, sterilization and other ways of modifying genetics. Based on her views of women’s rights and abortion, she would not agree with arranged marriages, and would be disgusted with forced abortions. Saying that Gamble would be pro-choice means that she would believe that it is the mother’s choice to abort a pregnancy. Progressing into the future, Nazi genocide of the 1930- 1940's furthered negative views on eugenics. At the beginning of the 20th century mainstream eugenics became a popular in science and politics. Eugenic feminism had its own take on the matter. A tension was caused between mainstream eugenics and eugenic feminism; eugenic feminism supported birth control in order to prevent the eugenic decline of society, but did not agree with other mainstream eugenic ideals. "Mainstream eugenicists rejected particular feminist positions on such issues as birth control, free love, and economic independence for women" (10). Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Margaret Sanger became a part of the eugenics movement based on their fight for birth control. They worked as feminists and then became eugenic feminists trying to work with mainstream eugenicists in their efforts for the legalization of birth control. There were many contradictions between the feminists and eugenicists, ultimately leading to the decline of eugenic feminism. Eliza Burt Gamble could have also been a part of the eugenic feminist movement, as it occurred later in her life. With the contradictions that lead to the decline of eugenic feminism, we conclude that Eliza Burt Gamble would oppose eugenic practices in the 19th and 21st centuries.
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Women's Rights
Eliza Burt Gamble wrote The Evolution of Woman in critique of Darwin’s The Descent of Man. This was one of the many steps she took to fight for women’s rights. Her research for evidence for the superiority of women focused on Darwin’s work and history of ancient Grecian and Roman societies. While firmly believing in female superiority she argues Darwin’s views:
“In his zeal to prove the superiority of man over woman, and while emphasizing energy, perseverance, and courage as factors in development, Mr. Darwin seems to have overlooked the importance of the distinctive characters belonging to the female organization, viz., perception, and intuition, combined with greater powers of endurance, the first two of which, under the low conditions occasioned by the supremacy of the animal instincts, have thus far had little opportunity to manifest themselves.” (6) She was a dedicated activist for women’s suffrage. In 1876 she organized Michigan’s first women’s suffrage conference (1). Gamble spoke and wrote for women’s rights events. She fought for women’s right to vote, but also believed that there was much more to be done for women’s equality. Being a teacher, Gamble also encouraged education for women. She often wrote to newspapers about her concerns with women’s equality. Therefore, her work during the nineteenth century gives us a clue that her efforts would continue on to the twenty-first century.
Drug Prohibition
Eliza Burt Gamble was an educator and activist. With these prominent roles, which she was successful in, it is assumed that she would support drug prohibition. Drug use in the 19th century was predominately for the upper class for recreational purposes. Gamble was a socialist, so with her cooperative ideals of society there would be no upper class to indulge in recreational drugs. In the 21st century, drugs have become more popular throughout the classes and ages. Eliza Burt Gamble would approve of the legalization of alcohol and medicinal marijuana, with the appropriate regulations. She would also agree with the continued prohibition of dangerous drugs.
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Newspaper Articles Written by Eliza Burt Gamble
Works Cited and Further Research Material:
1. http://womeninscience.history.msu.edu/Biography/C-4A-2/eliza-burt-gamble/
2. http://search.proquest.com.proxy1.cl.msu.edu/docview/144791957/1421687EC341C030302/8?accountid=12598
3. http://search.proquest.com.proxy1.cl.msu.edu/docview/563972959/1421687EC341C030302/21?accountid=12598
4. http://search.proquest.com.proxy1.cl.msu.edu/docview/564709341/1421687EC341C030302/22?accountid=12598
5. http://www.poorwilliam.net/al-082612.html
6. Eliza Burt Gamble, The Evolution of Woman: An Inquiry into the Dogma of Her Inferiority to Man (New York, London: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1894)
7. http://womeninscience.history.msu.edu/Object/C-46-1D/eliza-burt-gamble/
8. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sex-the-foundation-of-the-god-idea-eliza-burt-gamble/1023627103
9. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/god-idea-of-the-ancients-or-sex-in-relig-eliza-burt-gamble/1005838359
10. Mary Ziegler, "Eugenic Feminism: Mental Hygiene, The Women's Movement, and The Campaign for Eugenic Legal Reform, 1900-1935" (Harvard Law School, 2007)
1. http://womeninscience.history.msu.edu/Biography/C-4A-2/eliza-burt-gamble/
2. http://search.proquest.com.proxy1.cl.msu.edu/docview/144791957/1421687EC341C030302/8?accountid=12598
3. http://search.proquest.com.proxy1.cl.msu.edu/docview/563972959/1421687EC341C030302/21?accountid=12598
4. http://search.proquest.com.proxy1.cl.msu.edu/docview/564709341/1421687EC341C030302/22?accountid=12598
5. http://www.poorwilliam.net/al-082612.html
6. Eliza Burt Gamble, The Evolution of Woman: An Inquiry into the Dogma of Her Inferiority to Man (New York, London: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1894)
7. http://womeninscience.history.msu.edu/Object/C-46-1D/eliza-burt-gamble/
8. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sex-the-foundation-of-the-god-idea-eliza-burt-gamble/1023627103
9. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/god-idea-of-the-ancients-or-sex-in-relig-eliza-burt-gamble/1005838359
10. Mary Ziegler, "Eugenic Feminism: Mental Hygiene, The Women's Movement, and The Campaign for Eugenic Legal Reform, 1900-1935" (Harvard Law School, 2007)