Fanny Fern was the name Sara Payson Willis used in many letters to the editor and satirical articles that appeared in Boston papers in the 1850s. She wrote often, especially for The Lily and The Una,feminist newspapers at the time. She was possibly the first woman in the U.S. who was paid to write a column, for the New York Ledger .
Fern caused a scandal when she wrote the best-selling book Ruth Hall, which was a thinly-veiled autobiography. People recognized themselves in it, and were angry at her unflattering portrayals of them. Her editor was so mad that he exposed Fern's real name.
Fern was a vocal feminist, constantly writing in defense of women's rights. She believed women were as smart and as capable as men, and should be allowed to follow any career they chose. She wrote about birth control, divorce, education for women, sexism in religion and marriage, and women's poverty. Her writing was usually very funny, and her witty criticisms and satires of sexist men drew a lot of attention. Her ideas were way ahead of her time, and people often didn't agree with her, but she was still very popular. Readers would mob the offices of the Ledger every week when her column came out, trying to be the first to see what she had to say.
Fern often wrote on the intellectual capabilities of women, and how they were shortchanged by society's attitudes towards their education and intelligence. She thought females should have equal access to education, and not be treated by society as if they were naturally stupid. Today, studies are coming out which show that boys get more attention in the classroom. Teachers tend call on them more, and boys tend to be louder and interrupt girls more. Boys are also encouraged more to study things like math and science. Does this happen in your classroom? Are girls quiet and ignored? Or do girls participate equally in class discussions? Are both boysand girls encouraged to go into the same kinds of careers? If younotice boys getting most of the attention, ask your teacher about it.