The abolitionist movement transformed the role of women in American history. Before the abolitionist movement, women were seen as invisible icons in society. A typical woman would only be responsible for mothering duties, cleaning and preparing food. While many women were OK with this, others were not. The desire to be heard and treated as equals was shared by many women. Amazing women like Sojourner Truth, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and the Grimke sisters became prominent leaders of the abolitionist movement and carved their way into history by initiating speeches, participating in women's politics, and supporting their personal views on women's rights through religious doctrines. Sojourner Truth, an African-American woman and former slave, fights a double war for her rights. The fact that Truth is an African-American woman put added pressure on her journey. Truth traveled thousands of miles giving speeches against slavery and for women's rights. In 1851, Truth delivered her famous "Ain't I a Woman" speech to the Women's Convention. In her speech, she attacked the idea that women and black people are inferior. Truth used her personal experiences to describe the discrimination she faced as a former black slave. Truth's main goal through her speech was to show how she is the equal of any man. She said, “Look at me! Look at my arm! I plowed and planted and gathered into barns, and no man could rule me! And I'm not a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man - if I had the chance - and take the beating too! » The Truth connects women's rights and abolition by defining women as equal to men and including examples of her experiences. Truth concludes her speech: "If the first woman God ever created... middle of paper... rights through religious doctrines helped make their philosophy understood by the people. Women fought against sexism and racists but remained confident and eventually pursued their dream of being free.BibliographyGrimke, Sojourner. On women's rights. in Interpreting the American Past, ed. Luke Stowell Norfolk: Old Dominion University, 2013 Stanton, Elizabeth Cady. Statement of Sentiments of the Seneca Falls Convention. in Interpreting the American Past, ed. Luke Stowell Norfolk: Old Dominion University, 2013Teachushistory.org. "Sarah Grimké advocates for women's rights | Teach U.S. History." 2013. http://www.teachushistory.org/second-great-awakening-age-reform/resources/sarah-grimke-argues-womens-rights (accessed November 21, 2013). Truth, Sojourner. Am I not a woman. in Interpreting the American Past, ed. Luke Stowell Norfolk: Old Dominion University, 2013