ANTHONY, SUSAN B. (1820-1906), U.S. Feminist and Reformer

A founder and leading inspiration of the nineteenth-century woman's rights movement was Susan B. Anthony, who even as a teenager spoke out vehemently against the inequities of marriage, an institution she would later call "legalized prostitution." In addition to her work with the women's movement, Anthony supported the abolitionist movement. It was through anti-slavery work that she met the beautiful Anna Dickinson, with whom she developed a close and probably sexual relationship. Not all abolitionists saw a connection between their cause and that of women's suffrage. A prominent male abolitionist once told Anthony, "You are not married; you have no business discussing marriage." She replied,"And you are not a slave. Suppose you quit lecturing on slavery."