Women In Politics

Belva Ann Bennett Lockwood was an American politician and women's rights advocate. She was the first woman to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court, and also the first woman to run for President of the United States. Lockwood ran for President of the United States as the candidate of the National Equal Rights Party. Though she did not win, she received a lot of votes and helped to pave the way for future female politicians. 

Many anti-suffragists conclude that most women do not want to be involved in politics and do not have the ability to.  Belva Lockwood's legacy proves that this claim is illegitimate. However, her running for presidency inflicted lots of fear in the anti-suffragists who went to great lengths to mock and intimidate her, for example dressing up as a woman outside her polls. 

The male protestors outside of her polling site were trying to hyperbolize her feminity as a way to make the statement that she is unfit to be a presidential candidate.  Although their attempt at humiliation was a symptom of sexism and misogyny, it also showed that they thought she was someone who could potentially present a threat to their patriarchy.