Short Skirts, Oh My! A History of Women’s Rights

When Abigail Adams begged her husband to “remember the ladies” in drafting a new code of laws, John wrote back that he “could not but laugh” at her extraordinary suggestion.  While it took almost 150 years, in the early part of the 20^th century, women were working, voting, and experiencing the first taste of freedoms unheard of before. In this talk, Anne Barret traces the exciting social and historical milestones in the fight for women’s rights.

— I long to hear that you have declared an independency — and by the way in the new Code of Laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make I desire you would Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favourable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could. If perticuliar care and attention is not paid to the Laidies we are determined to foment a Rebelion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation.”— Letter from Abigail Adams to John Adams, March 31, 1776