Amelia Jenks Bloomer American suffragette Date of Birth: 27.05.1818 Country: USA

Biography of Amelia Bloomer

Amelia Jenks Bloomer was an American suffragist and writer who dedicated her life to advocating for women's rights. Born in 1818, she grew up in a poor family in Cortland County, New York. At the age of 22, Amelia married lawyer Dexter Bloomer, who encouraged her to write articles for the newspaper. She began her writing career at the Seneca Falls County Courier in New York.

In 1848, Amelia attended the Woman's Rights Convention at Seneca Falls, becoming a participant in the movement for women's rights. In 1849, she started her own publication called "The Lily," which was published every two weeks. The newspaper initially focused on promoting temperance and abstinence but soon expanded to cover a wide range of social issues, including women's rights. Surprisingly, "The Lily" gained popularity and had a circulation of over 4,000 copies.

Amelia also published articles about women's fashion in her newspaper. She advocated for the New Harmony style of the 1820s and defended the attire worn by socialist women. In 1853, she shocked the public by appearing in scandalous clothing during one of her speeches. Amelia believed that the fight for women's rights extended beyond political rights and into the realm of clothing. She argued that women should have the freedom to wear comfortable garments without seeking permission from men, whom she called dictators who held all the power in society.

Amelia's unconventional clothing choice led to widespread ridicule and mockery from society. While many criticized her new attire, some, like activist Elizabeth Smith Miller, supported her and also wore the same style of clothing. Other notable women who embraced Bloomers were Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. However, the reform of women's clothing was slow and difficult, and eventually, even the most dedicated feminists returned to more traditional attire.

Despite the setback in her clothing reform efforts, Amelia Bloomer remained a prominent suffragist and writer throughout her life. She led suffrage campaigns in Nebraska and Iowa and served as the president of the Iowa Woman Suffrage Association from 1871 to 1873. Amelia Bloomer passed away on December 30, 1894, in Council Bluffs, Iowa.