This one stands alone if you're interested in the history of women's legal rights without all personal RBG story.
Women's legal status was a bit shocking in the 19th century.
I'll thread some highlights. Not much time now, but I'll add to it later.
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Women's legal status was a bit shocking in the 19th century.
I'll thread some highlights. Not much time now, but I'll add to it later.
1/
When Myra Bradwell tried to become a lawyer in the 1870s, she passed the Illinois bar, but the United States Supreme Court upheld the Illinois decision to refuse to allow her to practice law because (basically) a woman belongs in the home.
This is from the Supreme Court:
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This is from the Supreme Court:
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When Virginia Minor tried to vote in 1872, she (like others) argued that the 14th Amendment guarantees equal rights to all persons, she was a person, the law preventing her from voting denied her equal protection of the law, therefore, she should be able to vote.
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Sounds logical, right?
This was where we get the 'Sure women are technically persons, but so are infants, but we don't let them vote' response from the courts.
Also, the originalist argument that the framers of the 14th Amendment didn't intend to include women.
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This was where we get the 'Sure women are technically persons, but so are infants, but we don't let them vote' response from the courts.
Also, the originalist argument that the framers of the 14th Amendment didn't intend to include women.
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