Josiah Allen on the Woman Question

"Josiah Allen on the Woman Question" by Marietta Holley is a comical satire that presents the views of Josiah Allen, a man who strongly supports old-fashioned gender roles and opposes women getting the right to vote. The story follows his funny struggles to demonstrate that men are better than women, often shown through amusing talks with his wife, Samantha. We first meet Josiah Allen as he starts writing a book to argue against the ideas about women's rights and equality that Samantha and other supporters of women's suffrage have put forth. He thinks about the changes happening in society around him, feeling both annoyed and amused as he grapples with what he thinks about women's roles. Right away, it is clear that he believes men are superior, and his reason for writing is to defend what he sees as traditional values, which are being challenged by the growing feminist movement. His funny views on his own life, along with his conversations with Samantha and Uncle Sime, make for an entertaining look at gender issues and the standards of society at that time.