4 ms·

How so?

• defen 10y ago
  Religious tolerance Abolitionism Women's rights Prison reform Radically elevated role of individual conscience (inner light) They were into all those things way before it was cool. I see modern day divestment campaigns, ethical sourcing of goods and materials, and even "socially conscious" business in general ("Effect change in the world" / "make a difference") as direct descendants of the Quaker approach to abolitionism - "It is beginning to be seen that they must despise the gain of oppression, and deny themselves the blood-bought sweets and the blood-stained cotton that has come through this corrupt channel." Look up the Quaker approach to capitalism.
  • flukus 10y ago
    > Women's rights From a bit of reading it seems like their definition of womeens rights was quite different to how most people today would use the term. Quite controversial at the time too. A quote from wikipedia: > Also particularly within the relatively prosperous Quaker communities of the eastern United States, the focus on the child and "holy conversation" gave women unusual community power, although they were largely excluded from the market economy. With the Hicksite–Orthodox split of 1827–1828, Orthodox women found their spiritual role decreased, while Hicksite women retained greater influence. Correct my if I'm wrong, I know very little about quakers, but that sounds a lot like women were expected to remain barefoot and pregnant.