Lydia Maria Child

Personal Statement: Hello, my name is Lydia Maria Child. I was born February 11, 1802 in Massachusetts. I had a fairly decent education at a woman’s seminary and a public school. I am most notable for my novel "Over the River and Through the Wood" and my public opinion about women's rights. I raised awareness to women inequality and publicly expressed in my novels ways to resolve the issue.

Issue(s): Growing up I realized how unfairly women and slaves were treated at an early age. In public school, boys and girls were taught in different classrooms. After the death of my mother, I was sent to Main to live with my older sister and learn to be more “feminine”. Having lived in the age of the Cult of Domesticity, being feminine and knowing my place in society was important to my family, but not much to me. At the age of 25, I married David Lee Child despite indications that he was not a correct match for me. We constantly moved around due to lack of money. My marriage was not what I had in mind, having to constantly work just to survive. Most woman in my era could not work, having to follow the Cult of Domesticity rules, but my case was different. I strongly believed that women had a place right next to man, not behind him. Many may not have agreed with me but I strongly believed that this social injustice could only be solved if the issue with slavery was resolved. I believed that both women and slaves were treated unfairly by white men with the fact that both were treated like property and had no individual rights. Garrison’s writing were my source of motivation to speak my opinion, even if it were different.
Solutions: My voice was almost always overcrowded by my husband's disapproval. I wrote a number of novels that were published and gained popularity. “An Appeal in Favor of that Class of Americans Called Africans” was one of my accomplishments. The Frugal Housewife (1829) was based upon the roles of women in her sphere within the home, and gave advice to women. It dealt with slavery and branched out to women equality. I spread my ideas and hopes with other women who too wished to be treated equally. I mostly faced criticism from my husband and those who disagreed with slavery being abolished.

Relationship to Others: I would feel most comfortable dining with Margaret Fuller and Angelina Grimké. Due to our common belief in equality and women’s right, we would most likely all get along. Seating nearby Andrew Jackson, John C. Calhoun, or Henry Clay would make me feel uncomfortable.