How Virginia Laws Discriminate Against Women

How Virginia Laws Discriminate Against Women

This leaflet entitled, "How Virginia Laws Discriminate Against Women," was compiled by Burnita Shelton Mathews, the Legal Research Secretary of the Legal Research Department of the National Woman's Party in 1922. As described on the back cover, this leaflet outlines discrimination against women in the Virginia law, which is of "vital importance to each woman in this state, for decisions which affect her future, and the welfare of her children, may be made on the basis of these very laws."

"Fathers are given practically complete control over their children and mothers almost no control.

A married woman's property is presumed to belong to her husband, unless proof to the contrary is shown.

Grounds for divorce are unequal.

Women can not serve on juries.

Women are not admitted on equal terms to the state university."

Matthews, Burnita Shelton

M 9 Box 103, Adèle Goodman Clark papers, 1849-1978, James Branch Cabell Library, VCU Libraries

National Woman's Party

1922

Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, VCU Libraries

This item is in the public domain. Acknowledgement of the Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries as a source is requested.

Learn more:
Women's Suffrage: The Movement, Social Welfare History Project
National Woman's Party, Social Welfare History Project