Women's Rights
Defying the odds of her time, Child's writing, in itself, is a form of activism. She defeated barriers, and created a community of informed young women and children. Some of her most popular pieces were dedicated to women, one of which being the notable Frugal Housewife1. This novel was one of her earlier pieces, addressing the middle class housewife of America - something that hadn’t been done before. She overcame barriers when publishing the book, as editors saw a book like this for middle-class women as unnecessary, as housekeeping was more of an affluent hobby.
Child’s work becomes even further impactful when we take into account her life at the time of some of these published works. The Frugal Housewife2 was written by Child when the topic of frugal housekeeping was overwhelmingly important in Child’s life, supporting a jailed and indebted husband. Written at a time when she was split from her husband, Letters from New York3 is another one of child’s most impactful pieces. Choosing to stay in New york, regardless of her husband’s status, she put her career first.
Among other pieces, her essay “Woman’s Rights”4, in Letters from New York5, Child wrote of a “gallantry” presented by men. Taking yet another controversial stance, Child argues that the chivalry of men is a front. She presents the idea by explaining that men that truly respected women would wish for equality, and that chivalry in itself is sexist. She describes men’s polite attitudes towards women as a veil, covering their true attitudes and beliefs for women.
Through her work, Child lost fans, and even made a few enemies. Going against the grain as a female writer, Child wrote about controversies, and not everyone agreed with her stance. Senator James Mason of Virginia had written Child, disapproving of her push to end slavery, saying that her involvement in other communities makes her “un-womanly” and that white women in the south assisted with the birthing of black children all the time. Child famously wrote in response that “in the north, we don’t sell the children after assisting in the birth” 6
Inducted into the Women's Hall of Fame in 20077, Child's legacy, and controversy lives on. She built a fanbase of women in her early works, writing pieces to relate to the average housewife, and writing children's stories. Child took a turn shortly after building this base, and wrote for what she believed.
1The frugal housewife : Dedicated to those who are not ashamed of economy. Accessed December 2, 2024. https://n2t.net/ark:/85335/m5zp4192f
2The frugal housewife : Dedicated to those who are not ashamed of economy. Accessed December 2, 2024. https://n2t.net/ark:/85335/m5zp4192f
3Child, Lydia Maria. Letters from New York. 11th ed. New York: C. S. Francis & Co., 1850. Accessed via Harvard University, HathiTrust Digital Library. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.rsl1ay.
4A Spotlight on a Primary Source by Lydia Maria Child. “Lydia Maria Child on Women’s Rights, 1843.” Lydia Maria Child on women’s rights, 1843 | Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Accessed December 2, 2024. https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-resources/spotlight-primary-source/lydia-maria-child-womens-rights-1843.
5Child, Lydia Maria. Letters from New York. 11th ed. New York: C. S. Francis & Co., 1850. Accessed via Harvard University, HathiTrust Digital Library. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.rsl1ay.
6“The Progress of Religious Ideas, through Successive Ages : Child, Mrs. (Lydia Maria), 1802-1880 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming.” Internet Archive, January 1, 1970.
7“Lydia Maria Child.” Women of the Hall. Accessed December 2, 2024. https://www.womenofthehall.org/inductee/lydia-maria-child/.
