Book Review -N Lois W Banner
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Book Review on Lois W Banner
Lois W. Banner is the exquisite author of the book Elizabeth Cady Stanton: A Radical for Womans Rights. Lois Banner explains how one woman ultimately changed the world and how society views women as individuals and as a group. Banner goes into great detail about how Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a daughter, a wife, a mother, a politician and a reformist. But most importantly, Stanton made time for fun. Banner gives Stanton a modern image of a modern day superwoman.
Banner opens the book with an introduction about how Elizabeth Cady Stanton was the daughter of Margret Livingston Cady and Daniel Cady. Banner describes Margaret Cady as a domesticated housewife. Daniel Cady was a lawyer. Elizabeth often got into trouble with her mother as a child. Her mother was not a great presence in her life, causing Stanton to rebel. Banner goes into great depth about Elizabeth and her mothers relationship. In my opinion, Elizabeth Cady Stantons life influenced Banner. Banner explains how “Elizabeth clearly felt a lack of love, and it is equally clear that she judged her mother as the primary culprit.” (Page 4) Lois supports this statement about Elizabeths mother by pointing out some discipline techniques that Margret Livingston used. One way that Margret Cady disciplined her rebellious daughter was to ” send the rebellious Elizabeth for discipline to her father in his law office” (Page 7), Lois Banner states how “he would usually simply let Elizabeth listen to his discussions with his clients or read the volumes in the bookshelves along the walls- activities which Elizabeth loved.” (Page 7)
As Lois W. Banner continues to tell the story of one of the most influential women in history she describes Elizabeths relationship with her husband Henry Stanton, whom also was a politician, but whos views were opposite from Elizabeths but he continued to support Elizabeth in her views and values. One of the best examples that our societies can relate to is that of the fashion industry. An example of this would be the case of the Bloomers. Bloomers were a dress style that were shorts and exposed the womans leg. During this time women were expected to be long dresses with tight corsets. Elizabeth Cady wore the bloomers because she explained to men and women that the tight corsets caused physical harm to their bodies. Daniel Cady, or any man for that matter, did not approve of the ladies wearing bloomers; however Daniel Cady was not afraid to be seen in public with his wife while wearing them. Lois W Banner does an amazing job of showing how different these two individuals are, but also during the high part of their marriage, how they also managed to stand beside each other regardless of their different political views. During the early years of her marriage Elizabeth started her early stages of becoming a reformist. Elizabeth Cady would go to conventions about womens rights with her husband and listen to different individuals. This is the way that we as readers learn about Elizabeths best friend and how they met to form a lasting friendship. One of the women that spoke was Susan B. Anthony and it was through these conventions that Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton became best friends.
We are introduced into the personal life aspects of Elizabeth Cady Stanton. She had a total of seven children, five which were boys and two were girls. Cady Stanton had a firm belief on being present in the lives of her children. As a mother I can connect with her when Lois Banner gives a particular instance that occurred in Albany. Elizabeth