Harriet Martineau (June 12, 1802 – June 27, 1876
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Wmartineau.htm
• English writer, journalist, political economist, philosopher, abolitionist and feminist
• In 1823 she wrote an article titled “on female education” but it was published by “Monthly Repository as anonymous
• After discovering she was the author to the article, her brother strongly encouraged Harriet to become a writer and “leave it to the other women to make skirts and darn stockings”.
• After her father’s death she moved to London and worked for a small newspaper, where she received a small pay
• She began to write books on a variety of subjects such as religion, politics and the economy. These writings showed her passion for social reform and were published as a series of stories.
• Soon the popularity of her stories brought her wealth and financial independence
• While traveling the USA, Harriet wrote stories about the poor treatment of women and argued that women should have more education so they can be beneficial to the world in ways besides child bearing and marriage.
• In 1866 she joined with other women to present a petition for the women’s right to vote, to Parliament.
• Throughout the years she wrote over 1600 articles for the daily news on a number of subjects. One subject which she liked to write about was The Contagious Diseases acts. She objected to the laws that only applied to women.
• She “got the campaign going” for the National Association for the Repeal of the Contagious Diseases Act