塞尼卡福尔斯感伤宣言与决议
(Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions)
人类的历史是一部男人对妇女不断伤害与掠夺的历史。
十九世纪中叶ˇ妇女只拥有少数一些法权和政治权利ˇ尽管妇女在国家机关、商店、工厂、农场和学校中工作的人数在不断增加。妇女对自己命运的不满是美国灌输民主意识的産物。妇女能够识字ˇ所以她们阅读了《独立宣言》ˇ听到过废奴主义者和其它改革者们使用的关于自然、权利、平等、自由等字眼。在一个尊重个人良知的国度里ˇ不可避免地便有些妇女会大声疾呼ˇ爲什麽妇女在法律上和政治上遭受不平等的待遇。
伊莉萨白ˇ凯蒂ˇ斯坦顿(1815ˇ1902)与其它四位妇女筹划在1848年7月19日至20日召开一次会议ˇ“讨论社会、公民、宗教状况和妇女的权利问题”。在斯坦顿的领导下ˇ小组起草了一个模仿《独立宣言》的《感伤宣言》。大约一百名妇女和男士聚会在纽约的塞尼卡福尔斯ˇ讨论、修改并接受了她们的《宣言》。比起普遍蔑视妇女权利ˇ尤其是蔑视妇女投票权的舆论来ˇ她们要进步得多。
1869年ˇ怀俄明成了美国第一个允许妇女投票的州。首批允许妇女投票的国家是纽西兰(1893年)、芬兰(1906年)、挪威(19l 3年)。1920年ˇ美国妇女赢得了投票权ˇ当时批准了对ˇ法的第19次修正案。
在有关人类事务的发展过程中ˇ当人类家庭的一个部份必须在人们之间依照自然法则和上帝的意旨ˇ接受与妇女迄今不同的地位时ˇ出于对人类舆论的尊重ˇ必须把妇女不得不这样做的原因予以宣布。
我们认爲下面这些真理是不言而喻的ˇ男人与女人生而平等ˇ造物者赋予她们若干不可剥夺的权利ˇ其中包括生命权、自由权和追求幸福的权利ˇ爲了保障这些权利才建立政府ˇ而政府的正当权力ˇ是经被治理者的同意而産生的。ˇˇ当任何形式的政府对这些目标具有破坏作用时ˇ受其害的人民便有权拒绝效忠它ˇ要求建立一个新的政府ˇ其赖以奠基的原则ˇ其组织权力的方式ˇ务使人民认爲唯有这样才最可能获得他们的安全和幸福。爲了慎重起见ˇ成立多年的政府ˇ是不应当由于轻微和短暂的原因而予以变更的。过去的一切经验也都说明ˇ任何苦难ˇ只要是尚能忍受ˇ人类都宁愿容忍ˇ而无意爲了本身的权益便废除他们久已习惯了的政府。但是ˇ当追逐同一目标的一连串滥用职权和强取豪夺发生ˇ证明政府企图把妇女置于专制统治之下时ˇ那麽她们就有义务推翻这个政府ˇ并爲她们未来的安全建立新的保障。这就是妇女过去逆来顺受的情况ˇ也是她们ˇ在不得不要求得到她们有权得到的地位的原因。
人类的历史是一部男人对妇女不断伤害与掠夺的历史ˇ其直接目的是在妇女之上建立绝对专制暴政。爲了证明此言属实ˇˇ将下列事实公诸于公正的世界。
男人从未允许妇女行使其不可剥夺的选举权。
男人强迫妇女服从那些她无权参与制定的法律。
男人拒绝给予妇女连最无知、最下流的ˇˇ不论是本国的还是外来的男人都具有的权力。
在剥夺了妇女作爲公民的首要权力ˇˇ选举权ˇ从而使她在立法机构中没有任何代表之后ˇ男人从各个方面压迫妇女。
一旦结婚ˇ在法律意义上ˇ男人便使妇女丧失了公民的权利。
男人被夺了妇女的全部财産权ˇ甚至包括支配她挣得的工资的权利。
男人使妇女成爲不负道德责任的人ˇ因爲妇女可以犯下许多罪而不受惩罚ˇ只要这些罪是当着她丈夫的面犯下的。在订立婚约时ˇ妇女被迫发誓听命
于丈夫ˇ而丈夫ˇ在实质上ˇ则成爲她的主人ˇˇ法律授权男人ˇ允许他褫夺她的自由权、对她行使惩罚权。
男人制定离婚法ˇ规定准于离婚的各种正当理由ˇ规定一旦双方分离ˇ孩子的监护权必须归属于谁ˇ法律完全忽视了妇女的幸福ˇˇ在任何情况下ˇ它都是建立在男人至上的错误假设之上ˇ将所有的权力置于男人之手中。
尽管妇女在婚后被剥夺全部的权利ˇ可是单身并拥有财産的妇女却被男人课税来支持政府ˇ然而政府却仅仅在妇女的财産对其有利可图的时候才承认妇女。
男人几乎垄断了全部有利可图的职业ˇ在允许妇女从事的职业中ˇ妇女所得到的报酬都是微不足道的。
男人封闭了所有能让妇女通ˇ财富和名望的途径ˇ他认爲财富与名望是男人最体面的荣耀。妇女从未能成爲医学、法学或神学的教师。
男人拒绝ˇ妇女提供全面教育的便利ˇˇ所有大学的校门都对妇女关闭着。
男人允许妇女在教会以及政府机构任职ˇ但只能处于附属地位。男人宣称ˇ根据使徒教义ˇ妇女不得任牧师ˇ除了个别例外的ˇ妇女还不得在公共场合参与宗教事务。
男人制造了错误的公共舆论ˇ因爲在他给予世人的道德法典中ˇ男女未能一视同仁。根据这法典ˇ将妇女排斥在社会之外的错误不仅仅受到了宽容ˇ而且被认爲是无足轻重的。
男人攫取了耶和华的权力ˇ宣称他有权爲妇女规划出行动的范围ˇ尽管这种权力仅仅属于她的良知和上帝。男人竭尽全力试图摧残妇女对自己能力的自信ˇ贬低她的自尊ˇ迫使她心甘情愿地过听人摆布的凄惨生活。
ˇ在ˇ占国家人口一半的民衆完全没有选举权。她们在社会、宗教上受到不公正的待遇。面对上述这些不公正的法律ˇ况且妇女确实感到了她们受到的冤曲、她们蒙受的压迫和她们最神圣的权力被人用欺骗的手段剥夺了ˇ我们坚决要求立刻给予妇女所有属于美国公民的权力和特权。
在着手我们眼前的伟大工作时ˇ我们估计将遇到大量的误解、误传和嘲讽。不过ˇ我们仍将竭尽全力实ˇ我们的目标。我们将聘请代理人ˇ散发传单ˇˇ政府和立法机构请愿ˇ努力争取教会与报界的支持。我们希望这次大会之后ˇ在全国各地将召开一系列的大会。
我们坚信ˇ胜利终将属于正义与真理。今天ˇ我们在此宣言上签署上我们的名字。
决议ˇ
鉴于“人类必须追求真正的、实质的幸福”公认是自然的伟大法则ˇ布莱克斯通在评论中指出ˇ这条自然法则是与人类同生共存的法则ˇ是上帝钦定的法则ˇ它当然比任何其它法则都具有更高的约束性。在全世界ˇ在所有国家ˇ在任何时候ˇ这条法则都具有约束性。任何人类的法则倘若与此法则ˇ矛盾ˇ便丧失其效力ˇ而具有效力的法律ˇ其全部法力、效力和权威则都是间接地或直接地从这一根源産生的。因此ˇ决议认爲ˇ凡是与妇女真正和实质的幸福冲突的法律ˇ不论其形式如何ˇ都是与自然的伟大法则ˇ矛盾的ˇ都是无效的ˇ因爲“自然的伟大法则比任何其它法则都具有更高的约束性”。
决议认爲ˇ一切阻挠妇女谋取良知而需要的社会地位的法律ˇ一切主张男尊女卑的法律ˇ都是与自然的伟大法则ˇ违背的ˇ因而也是不具备任何法力或权威的。
决议认爲ˇ男女平等ˇ是造物主的旨意ˇ人类善之最高境界要求男女平等。
决议认爲ˇ应当开导我国的妇女ˇ使她们对制约她们生活的法律有更多的了解ˇ这样她们就不至于对妇女当前的地位表示满意ˇ从而表ˇ出自己的低下ˇ她们也不至于声称已经拥有自己ˇ要的一切权利ˇ从而表ˇ出自己的无知。
决议认爲ˇ既然男人宣称他在智力上具有优越性ˇ并且承认妇女在道德方面具有优越性ˇ那麽男人的一个突出的责任就是鼓励妇女畅所欲言、教书讲学ˇ正如妇女在所有宗教团体中有机会做到的那样。
决议认爲ˇ在社会上ˇ在道德和举止谈吐温文尔雅等方面ˇ对男士也应当提出对妇女一样的要求。男女若犯同样性质的罪ˇ应当受到同样严厉的制裁。
妇女在公开场合发表演说ˇ常常招致某些人有失典雅端庄之类的攻击ˇ而这些人却以亲自光临的方式怂恿妇女登台演出ˇ举行音乐会或在马戏院出场ˇ技。决议认爲ˇ这种攻击是非常不得体的。
妇女安于各种ˇ制已经太久了。这些ˇ制是由腐败的习俗和对圣经的肆意曲解爲妇女设置的。决议认爲ˇˇ在是妇女步入伟大的造物主赋予她的更广阔的天地的时候了。
决议认爲ˇ确保妇女神圣的选举权是我国妇女的职责。
决议认爲ˇ人权的平等是人人能力与责任ˇ同这一事实的必然结果。
因此ˇ决议认爲ˇ由于造物主赋予男女ˇ同的能力和运用这些能力的ˇ同的责任感ˇ所以男女ˇ然都有ˇ同的权利和责任ˇ利用一切正义的手段促进一切正义的事业ˇ尤其在道德和宗教这些重大的问题上ˇ不言而喻ˇ妇女有权同她的兄弟一道ˇ在私下和公开的场合ˇ通过文章和演讲ˇ运用任何合适的手段、在任何合适的集会上ˇ开宗名义地宣讲。这是不言自明的真理ˇ它是从扎根在人类本性的神圣原则中産生的ˇ任何与之ˇ违背的习俗和权威ˇ不论是ˇ代的还是被磨损得苍白的古老法则ˇ都将被视作不言而喻的谬误ˇ是违背人类利益的。
决议认爲ˇ我们事业的早日成功ˇ取决于男人与妇女的热忱和执着的努力ˇ推翻教会的独裁ˇ确保在各行各业和社交活动中妇女ˇ有与男子同样的参与权。
Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments and
Resolutions
When, in the
course of human events, it becomes necessary for one portion of the family of
man to assume among the people of the earth a position different from that which
they have hitherto occupied, but one to which the laws of nature and of nature's
God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they
should declare the causes that impel them to such a course.
We hold
these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal; that
they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among
these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these
rights governments are instituted, deriving their just powers from the consent
of the governed.--Whenever any form of Government becomes destructive of these
ends, it is the right of those who suffer from it to refuse allegiance to it,
and to insist upon the institution of a new government, laying its foundation on
such principles, and organizing its powers in such form as to them shall seem
most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate
that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient
causes; and accordingly, all experience hath shown that mankind are more
disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by
abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of
abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to
reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their duty to throw off such
government, and to provide new guards for their future security. Such has been
the patient sufferance of the women under this government, and such is now the
necessity which constrains them to demand the equal station to which they are
entitled.
The
history of mankind is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations on the part
of man toward woman, having in direct object the establishment of an absolute
tyranny over her. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has
never permitted her to exercise her inalienable right to the elective franchise.
He has
compelled her to submit to laws, in the formation of which she had no voice.
He has
withheld from her rights which are given to the most ignorant and degraded
men--both natives and foreigners.
Having
deprived her of this first right of a citizen, the elective franchise, thereby
leaving her without representation in the halls of legislation, he has oppressed
her on all sides.
He has
made her, if married, in the eye of the law, civilly dead.
He has
taken from her all right in property, even to the wages she earns.
He has
made her, morally, an irresponsible being, as she can commit many crimes with
impunity, provided they be done in the presence of her husband. In the covenant
of marriage, she is compelled to promise obedience to her husband, he becoming,
to all intents and purposes, her master--the law giving him power to deprive her
of her liberty, and to administer chastisement.
He has so
framed the laws of divorce, as to what shall be the proper causes of divorce; in
case of separation, to whom the guardianship of the children shall be given; as
to be wholly regardless of the happiness of women--the law, in all cases, going
upon the false supposition of the supremacy of man, and giving all power into
his hands.
After
depriving her of all rights as a married woman, if single and the owner of
property, he has taxed her to support a government which recognizes her only
when her property can be made profitable to it.
He has
monopolized nearly all the profitable employments, and from those she is
permitted to follow, she receives but a scanty remuneration.
He closes
against her all avenues to wealth and distinction, which he considers most
honorable to himself. As a teacher of theology, medicine, or law, she is not
known.
He has
denied her the facilities for obtaining a thorough education--all colleges being
closed against her.
He allows
her in Church as well as State, but a subordinate position, claiming Apostolic
authority for her exclusion from the ministry, and, --with some exceptions, from
any public participation in the affairs of the Church.
He has
created a false public sentiment, by giving to the world a different code of
morals for men and women, by which moral delinquencies which exclude women from
society, are not only tolerated but deemed of little account in man.
He has
usurped the prerogative of Jehovah himself, claiming it as his right to assign
for her a sphere of action, when that belongs to her conscience and her God.
He has
endeavored, in every way that he could to destroy her confidence in her own
powers, to lessen her self-respect, and to make her willing to lead a dependant
and abject life.
Now, in
view of this entire disfranchisement of one-half the people of this country,
their social and religious degradation,--in view of the unjust laws above
mentioned, and because women do feel themselves aggrieved, oppressed, and
fraudulently deprived of their most sacred rights, we insist that they have
immediate admission to all the rights and privileges which belong to them as
citizens of these United States.
In
entering upon the great work before us, we anticipate no small amount of
misconception, misrepresentation, and ridicule; but we shall use every
instrumentality within our power to effect our object. We shall employ agents,
circulate tracts, petition the State and national Legislatures, and endeavor to
enlist the pulpit and the press in our behalf. We hope this Convention will be
followed by a series of Conventions, embracing every part of the country.
Firmly
relying upon the final triumph of the Right and the True, we do this day affix
our signatures to this declaration. Resolutions
Whereas,
the great precept of nature is conceded to be, "that man shall pursue his own
true and substantial happiness." Blackstone, in his Commentaries, remarks, that
this law of Nature being coeval with mankind, and dictated by God himself, is of
course superior in obligation to any other. It is binding over all the globe, in
all countries, and at all times; no human laws are of any validity if contrary
to this, and such of them as are valid, derive all their force, and all their
validity, and all their authority, mediately and immediately, from this origin;
Therefore,
Resolved,
That such laws as conflict, in any way, with the true and substantial happiness
of woman, are contrary to the great precept of nature, and of no validity; for
this is "superior in obligation to any other."
Resolved,
That all laws which prevent women from occupying such a station in society as
her conscience shall dictate, or which place her in a position inferior to that
of man, are contrary to the great precept of nature, and therefore of no force
or authority.
Resolved,
That woman is man's equal--was intended to be so by the Creator, and the highest
good of the race demands that she should be recognized as such.
Resolved,
That the women of this country ought to be enlightened in regard to the laws
under -which they live, that they may no longer publish their degradation, by
declaring themselves satisfied with their present position, nor their ignorance,
by asserting that they have all the rights they want.
Resolved,
That inasmuch as man, while claiming for himself intellectual superiority, does
accord to woman moral superiority, it is pre-eminently his duty to encourage her
to speak, and teach, as she has an opportunity, in all religious assemblies.
Resolved,
That the same amount of virtue, delicacy, and refinement of behavior, that is
required of woman in the social state, should also be required of man, and the
same transgressions should be visited with equal severity on both man and woman.
Resolved,
That the objection of indelicacy and impropriety, which is so often brought
against woman when she addresses a public audience, comes with a very ill grace
from those who encourage, by their attendance, her appearance on the stage, in
the concert, or in the feats of the circus.
Resolved,
That woman has too long rested satisfied in the circumscribed limits which
corrupt customs and a perverted application of the Scriptures have marked out
for her, and that it is time she should move in the enlarged sphere which her
great Creator has assigned her.
Resolved,
That it is the duty of the women of this country to secure to themselves their
sacred right to the elective franchise.
Resolved,
That the equality of human rights results necessarily from the fact of the
identity of the race in capabilities and responsibilities.
Resolved,
therefore, That, being invested by the Creator with the same capabilities, and
the same consciousness of responsibility for their exercise, it is demonstrably
the right and duty of woman, equally with man, to promote every righteous cause,
by every righteous means; and especially in regard to the great subjects of
morals and religion, it is self-evidently her right to participate with her
brother in teaching them, both in private and in public, by writing and by
speaking, by any instrumentalities proper to be used, and in any assemblies
proper to be held; and this being a self-evident truth, growing out of the
divinely implanted principles of human nature, any custom or authority adverse
to it, whether modern or wearing the hoary sanction of antiquity, is to be
regarded as self-evident falsehood, and at war with the interests of mankind.
Resolved,
That the speedy success of our cause depends upon the zealous and untiring
efforts of both men and women, for the overthrow of the monopoly of the pulpit,
and for the securing to woman an equal participation with men in the various
trades, professions and commerce.
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