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After reading Francis Parkman's article, Women Are Unfit to Vote, I found myself both offended and annoyed. His arguments were not only shaky, but they were also illogical. He states that the family has been the political unit; consequently, the head of the family should be the political representative. He goes on by stating that women have shared imperfectly in the traditions and not in the practice of self-government. Lastly, he suggests women might vote that men should go off and fight in war.
Not only are these statements wrong, but they are very much so offensive. Women are humans, too, and they should be treated how a man is treated. We are, after all, of an equal race, so why do we women not get the right to vote? In my opinion,this question cannot be answered logically. Many reasons can contradict Parkmans statements included in his article, and I plan to do so. To start with, Parkman declares that the family, and not the individual, has been the political unit, and the head of the family.. has been the political representative of the rest. He is saying that the men are the head of the family; therefore, they should be the ones that vote
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But what if the head of the family is a woman? Lets say, for example, the husband dies unexpectedly, leaving the woman behind to raise the children and take the position as head of the family. Does she then get the right to vote? Or do we simply deny her that right because she is a woman? According to Francis Parkman, the head of the family is the political representative, and no where in that statement did he once specify the head of the family could not be a woman. Therefore, as long as the woman is the head of the family, they should be granted the right to vote. Many circumstances in ones life may cause them to become, without notice, the head of their family. As quick as they become the new head, they should then be allowed to vote just as quickly. If they are denied that right, then Parkmans statement is false. The head of the family should not be limited to just being a man, and neither should the right to vote. Parkman follows by commenting that they [women] have shared very imperfectly in the traditions, and not at all in the practice of self-government.

While reading this statement, a well-known woman comes to my mind: Abigail Adams. Abigail Adams was known for writing many letters containing her personal opinions of the society. One of her most important letters she wrote contained valuable information about British troops and their ships that were in the Boston area. It was sent to her husband, John Adam, during the Revolutionary War. Though she had hardly any schooling, she still managed to read and become a well informed woman. If Abigail Adams could self-educate herself and help her husband during war, why then deny her the right to vote when clearly she has earned it? Why deny other women the right to vote based on their sex and not their intelligence? If you only let them practice in self-government, they can begin to learn the ins and outs of voting and the government. If you dont give us a chance, how will we ever learn? One of the last points Parkman makes is that it is conceivable [possible] that they might discover a [reason for fighting] when the men could not see it; and ..

might vote in the majority that the men should fight. I could not disagree with this statement more. Clara Barton, the founder of the Red Cross, not only carried supplies to soldiers during the war, but she also nursed the wounded men on the battlefield. Everyday she saw the horrors of the war. Men were being killed right in front of her, and those who did not die, faced the agonizing pain of their wounds.

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