Under certain circumstances, people who were held as slaves in the British colonies and early United States were able to sue for their right to be free from slavery. In the 17th through the 19th centuries, hundreds of “freedom suits” were filed and many slaves were able to successfully petition the courts for their freedom […]
The Canadian Persons Case: Are Women People?
Even after many women were granted limited rights to vote in early 20th century Canada, they still had never been appointed to the Canadian Senate. Though the law stated that any “qualified person” could be appointed to the Senate, it had only ever been applied to men. In the 1920s, a group of women known […]
Female Knights of the Middle Ages
While female knights were rare in the Middle Ages, they did exist. Though many records have been lost to time, there are records of women being knighted. Knights in Medieval Times The Middle Ages, also called the medieval era, is the name of the period in Europe from about the 5th century to the 15th. […]
Women’s Rights in Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egyptian women had many legal rights compared to women of other ancient societies. In the city-states of Ancient Greece, for example, a woman had to be represented by her father, brother, or husband in court, and couldn’t legally speak for herself. In the Roman Republic, a woman was legally subject to her husband’s power […]
What Are Bluestockings? The Movement, Origins, and Insult
A “bluestocking” generally refers to an educated woman with intellectual, especially literary, interests, but the term has changed quite a bit over time. More specifically, it can also refer to women who were members of an 18th century literary group called the Blue Stockings Society. After the decline of the Blue Stockings Society, the term […]
The Japanese Women’s Suffrage Movement (Real Facts)
As Japan’s contact with the Western world increased beginning in the 1850s, the new Meiji era government worried about Japan’s image in the eyes of Westerners. It began regulating the behavior of citizens in an effort to appear more modern and civilized in the eyes of Westerners, and be seen as an equal nation. As […]
4 Famous Black Women Mathematicians in History
For most of history, women of all races have been shut out of the most prestigious universities and colleges. Only in the past couple of centuries have women begun to attend the same schools as men, with many of the most prestigious universities excluding women until well into the 21st century. Black women, who have […]
“Pleading the Belly”: Pregnancy & Execution
Since the Middle Ages, a woman sentenced to death could delay her execution if she was found to be pregnant. This practice was called “pleading the belly” – but it didn’t always work.
Equal Under the Law: Married Women’s Property Acts in the United Kingdom
The Married Women’s Property Acts in the UK helped women finally began moving towards equality, and paved the way for women’s suffrage after the turn of the 19th century.
5 Surprising Facts About the Mughal Princess Jahanara That History Forgot
Mughal princess Jahanara is largely forgotten today – however she was a true renaissance woman, who was an author, architect and mystic par excellence.