Mary Lincoln: non-feminist?

[RJNorton]

In the index of her biography of Mary Lincoln Jean Baker includes an entry titled "non-feminist views of." She lists a few pages, and here are a few quotes from those pages:

"Overnight Mary Lincoln had become public property, a role for which she was ill prepared despite her interest in politics. Henceforth she was of two minds about this awful but wonderful prominence. On the one hand, she remembered that the ladies of her generation were never mentioned in the press, save— - and only a few then - —after death. Female abolitionists and suffragists gained no respect from her; she believed them unwomanly creatures. She had no interest in obtaining the vote, intending instead to influence her husband. On the other hand, she delighted in favorable press reports that she was, according to the New York Tribune, 'amiable and accomplished . . . vivacious and graceful ...a sparkling talker.' What Mary Lincoln was unprepared for was the inevitable rebuke, which as every politician including her husband knew, lurked in glory's shadows."

On another page Jean Baker writes, "Impatient with what she considered silly and undereducated females, she could not accept the other extreme: intellectual reformers working for women's rights."

I am just curious what forum members think. Assuming Jean Baker is correct, do these views of Mary's come as a surprise? Or does this "fit" with your image of Mary as a person? Because of her definite interest in politics I would have thought Mary might have been more interested in getting involved with the suffrage issue, but it appears just the opposite is the case. Does this seem logical to folks? Also, when Jean Baker uses the term "non-feminist views" is this a proper way of describing a lady who lived in the 19th century?

Thank you for any possible input.