The Historian's World

[AussieMick]

Laurie, you write "That statement bothers me because I have always understood that Mary gained a solid political background as a young girl at the knees of both her father and Henry Clay. I thought it irritated her greatly when, as a grown woman, she was ignored or looked down on by our "senior statesmen" upon arriving in Washington City."

I can understand the possibility that Mary was opposed to women having the vote but also being politically astute. I'm sure that she wouldnt have been alone in her thinking.

One perfectly reasonable argument (I'm not saying its correct) would have been that many women at that time would have been less educated than males. They would have been brought up to focus on doing the cooking and not worrying their pretty little heads about issues. Many women would (if given vote) have simply asked their husband for advice.

It is so important, I suggest, to recognise (as far as possible) the different pressures, mores, and cultures of people in earlier times.

Mary made the point that she would seek to influence her husband ... her right to vote was less crucial to her. Yes, I agree with you Laurie ... Its very understandable that she would have felt frustrated and annoyed by some of the dingbat, less astute than her, male politicians (and the lack of interest by the "shucks-why-I'm-just-a-woman" attitude by some their wives).