D e a r
L a b o r
a n d S u f f r a g e B y I d a R a u h
m o v e m e n t
Dear Labor and Suffrage move-
individual transformation allows
Women and Economics, Char-
ment,
for personal change. Personal
lotte Gilman describes how soci-
change allows for people, no
ety has accomplished this. She
am sure that you are both famil-
matter their circumstance, a
states, “Women are generally
iar with me. Polly’s has become
chance to better themselves emo-
considered, and consider them-
your stage for pushing forth your
tionally, mentally, and/or finan-
selves, mere fractions of families,
ideas, and because I am a fre-
cially. And yet, our society
and incapable of any wholesome
quent visitor at Polly’s, I am your
wrongly limits people’s ability to
life of their own” (196). Gilman
audience. Over the last couple of
seek out personal change.
expertly highlights how society
My name is Ida Rauh. I
weeks, I have patiently listened
has stripped women of their indi-
to your passionate and intriguing
viduality. Instead, women are
arguments. I have become famil-
merely seen as wives and moth-
iar with the issues each of you
ers. These limiting roles stuff
hold dear. Suffrage movement,
women into boxes without room
you are pushing for women to
for personal change. There is no
gain the right to vote. Labor fac-
room for individuality, and there
tion, you are fighting for the
is no room for change. A woman
rights of industrialized workers. I
cannot better herself by getting a
believe that these issues are of
job, getting an education, or in
great importance, and I am glad
any other way because she must
that you have spread awareness
devote herself to becoming the
about your ideas at Polly’s. How-
perfect wife and mother. Women
ever, I think it is time that I
are not just mothers and wives,
brought awareness to the issues
and if given the chance to pursue
that I care about. I often find my-
personal change, women could
self thinking about individual transformation and its ef-
Copy of Women and Economics, Charlotte Perkins Gilman
fects. Will individual transformation help better our society, or
not only better themselves, but society as well. Look at the women at Polly’s. Look at how
Women represent a large
Mabel’s and Polly’s businesses
will lead to a world full of selfish
group of people who have been
have flourished. Look at how
people? I am not yet sure what
prevented by society from seek-
Crystal Eastman became a law-
the answer is, but I know that
ing personal change. In her text,
yer and Henriette a teacher. Look
at how Maud is giving public
through personal change they
not have the right to stop them
speeches on topics she cares
will rise from the dirt they start-
from climbing the social ladder.
about. Look at how Elizabeth
ed in. However, their employers
You may wonder why I
has effectively led the IWW.
make it so that personal change
care so deeply about equal ac-
Look at how I have been able to
remains a dream. Employers
cess to achieve personal change.
pursue a variety of my passions
work these workers for long
I care because I know what it is
that lie outside of service to Max
hours for low wages. Again, so-
like to have the world tell you
or motherhood. Somehow, the
ciety has made it impossible for
no. I am known as a woman who
other women at Polly’s and my-
a select group of people to
wants it all. I want a happy and
self have been fortunate enough
loving marriage, I want a suc-
to break the oppressive chains
cessful career, and I want to
society places on us. We have
pursue all the things that make
decided to pursue personal
me happy, but people, including
change, and we have decided to
my husband, have told me that
find something better for our-
my aspirations are too much.
selves. Every woman deserves
Society tells me, other women,
that chance, but not every wom-
and laborers that we cannot
an gets it. The chance for wom-
push for a personal change and
en to pursue personal change is
achieve our dreams. But society
an opportunity I deeply care
is wrong. We can all achieve
about.
personal change, and therefore Not only do I want wom-
Photograph of Ida Rauh
en to have the opportunity to
better ourselves and those around us. We only need the
pursue personal change, but I
achieve personal change. These
chance. So, suffrage and labor
also want laborers to have the
workers no longer have time to
factions, I have listened to your
same opportunity. Workers, es-
even hope to better their lives.
words, and I hope that you have
pecially immigrants, start jobs
Instead, they are preoccupied
listened to mine. Because if ei-
with a dream in mind. They of-
with trying to make enough
ther of you want my support, I
ten come from unfortunate back-
money so that they and their
need to know that you too find
grounds, and they see these fac-
families can survive. I want this
my issues important.
tory jobs as a way to better their
to change. Everyone in America
themselves and their circum-
deserves the chance at personal
stances. This is their dream:
change, and these employers do
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