Margaret Fuller: Women's Educational and Political Rights

Personal Statement:My full name is Sarah Margaret Fuller, but I just prefer Margaret Fuller. I was born on May 23, 1810 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. I was taught to read and write by my father, Timothy Fuller, at first; however, later on in life I attended Port School in Cambridge port, right before I went to Boston Lyceum for Young Ladies. I am  an American journalist, critic, and women's rights advocate associated with the American transcendentalism movement. I was the first American female book reviewer. My book Women in the Nineteenth Century is the first major feminist work in America. By the time I was in my 30s I was the best read-person in New England. I used to give private lessons, and I hoped to earn a living based on journalism and translation. I was a teacher in Bronson Alcott's Temple School in Boston, and latter on a teacher at Greene Street School in Providence, Rhode Island. I was also an editor of The Dial, but I left the Dial because of disappointment of the publication of the subscription list. I was also offered to travel to Europe in particular England and Italy, and that is where I met my husband Giovanni Angelo Ossoli, and we had our child Angelo Eugene Philip Ossoli. I was the one to hold many  "conversations", discussions among local women regarding their education, and that is what I am mostly known for. 

Issue(s): After my dad’s death I was heavily affected by these gender differences. I had promised my father to be the head of the family and take care of the family; however, my uncles took over due to a missing will of my father, and that is when I wished to be from the opposite sex and have those rights. This inspired me to fight for me, my rights, and other women’s rights. However, I was more focused on the education of women rather than any other right. I believe that everyone deserves equal opportunity for education. I also fought for prison reform as well. I strongly believe that all women need to have equal right for education, and later on have political rights as well. 

Solution(s): I believe that to succeed in this issue I suggest that individual reform is the first step. We as women need to stand up for our own rights if we want them to be changed and if we want to achieve something. I was not successful to pass a law to change this; however, i was successful in inspiring other people to continue on this issue and eventually have a success and have the opportunity for education as well as political rights. I faced the challenge of being one of the first people to fight for this, and this was not a popular thing to fight for so many people did not take me that seriously. 

Relationship to Others: I would feel most comfortable sitting next to Susan B. Anthony, Lucretia Mott, Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, and Angelina Grimke. I would not feel comfortable sitting next to Henry Clay.