State Historical Society of Iowa

Excerpts from “Are Women People?: A Book of Rhymes for Suffrage Times," 1915

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Courtesy of Library of Congress, Miller, Alice Duer, "Are Women People?: A Book of Rhymes for Suffrage Times," 1915

Description

Published in 1915, "Are Women People?: A Book of Rhymes for Suffrage Times" is a collection of poetry by Alice Duer Miller concerning suffrage and women’s rights. A large portion of it was originally published in The New York Times. Miller (1874 - 1942) was a U.S. writer whose poetry actively influenced political opinion, particularly during the suffrage movement and the United States' entry into World War II.

Full Transcript of Pgs. 1, 34 and 35 from "Are Women People?: A Book of Rhymes for Suffrage"

Transcribed Excerpt of "The Protected Sex" from pgs. 34-35 in "Are Women People?: A Book of Rhymes for Suffrage"

Transcribed Excerpt of "Warning to Suffragists" from pg. 35 in "Are Women People?: A Book of Rhymes for Suffrage"

Source-Dependent Questions

For "The Protected Sex" (pg. 34-35)

  • Why are males considered a protected sex, according to this rhyme?
  • What inferences can be made about the position of women in society in relation to men based on this source?

For "Warning to Suffragists" (pg. 35)

  • According to anti-suffragists, what two ways would women be negatively impacted by the right to vote?
  • Using what you know from previous sources (“Advice To Young Ladies,” “Election Day!" and “The Lid Is Off Again”), why might male voters have “less to lose” than female voters?
  • How might the “Queen of the Throne” depicted in the “Woman” cartoon from December 5, 1914, respond to “Warning to Suffragists?" Why?

Citation Information

Miller, Alice Duer, "Are Women People?: A Book of Rhymes for Suffrage Times," 1915. Courtesy of Library of Congress