Fanny, like her mother, believed in women’s rights. She made her opinions clear from an early age, as one can see from the following diary entries. The first references the book pictured to the left, in which the main character talks about attending a Woman’s Rights Convention. Fanny may have particularly disliked the following book quotes:
“All talk of sameness of rights are absurd” (234)
“Home is the sacred sphere of woman’s noblest activities...in the sacred intimacies of home is the centre of her life.” (245-235)
“When you enter into politics and public life, you step out of your proper sphere, and you cannot do this without mischief to yourselves, to ma, and to the interests of the state.” (241)
The character suggests women’s rights will end the human race and believes that women will forget about having rights once they find the right man.
“ Evening we read aloud in “Dr Oldham,” by our friend Dr Henry... I like some things in Dr Oldham very much, but I abhor and detest his chapter on “woman’s rights” Mar 4 and 5, 1860
“I liked Mr H. for one thing that he never mentioned the human race as “men”--but always “men and women” as was right--” Jan 15, 1861
“I hear Mr Crittenden express himself over Florence Nightingale’s picture that he thought it a very unwomanly thing for a gentle lady to go into a hospital of wounded men--That was enough of you, Mr C. if I had not seen you at the table turn your head an spit on the floor cloth.” Dec 27, 1861