Watch Not for Ourselves Alone:The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Susan B. Anthony

Not for Ourselves Alone: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Susan B. Anthony is a PBS documentary that tells the story of the two women who played a significant role in the fight for women's rights in America. The two women, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, worked tirelessly for the right to vote for women and to achieve other key liberties which were initially only afforded to men.

The documentary chronicles the life story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who was a renowned women's suffrage leader and activist. The audience learns how Stanton became an advocate for women's rights after being inspired to speak out when she realized many of the rights which belonged to men were not awarded to her as a woman. We also learn about Susan B. Anthony, who is credited with having helped Stanton develop her activism potential. Together, the two women worked for over 50 years in the pursuit of change, equality, and fairness for women in America.

Not for Ourselves Alone was originally boosted with archival footage along with a narrative voiceover which provides an engaging overview of the two activist's journeys. Later, it was re-released with new footage, including interviews with scholars who study women's history and an array of powerful images that highlight the journey of the two women. The documentary tells the story of how the two women, Stanton and Anthony, were focused primarily on the battle for the expansion of women's rights. They knew that doing so would mean educating Americans of the injustices that women were facing and how such differences in treatment could be fixed. By focusing on the women's right to vote, which eventually played a pivotal role in the passing of the 19th Amendment in 1920, Stanton and Anthony proved that women were capable of standing up against issues that were seen as solely male.

Despite social norms of the day which limited women's active involvement in politics, or any serious career aside from domestic work, the documentary makes clear that these women were uniquely powerful in their capacity to organize and bring like-minded people together in meaningful ways. The documentary highlights the progress they achieved despite the extreme opposition they faced, and the uphill struggle against a public that was resistant to change.

Throughout the documentary, the audience is taken on a journey of both triumphs and setbacks. We learn about the key moments in the women's journey to equality, including when women legally and publicly took on marriage laws as an example of the kind of systematic change they were seeking. The documentary reminds viewers of the long, arduous journey of advancing women's rights but also celebrates the many successes that led to where women stand now as protected equals under the law.

Sally Kellerman from M*A*S*H narrates the documentary, giving an engaging and emotionally evocative voiceover that perfectly highlights the story of Stanton and Anthony.

Overall, Not for Ourselves Alone: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Susan B. Anthony is an inspiring documentary that serves as a poignant reminder of the hard work and persistence that women pioneers have shown in leading a charge for equality. The documentary provides essential history and context on this important subject material while being simultaneously educational, informative, and captivating. It is a must-see for anyone interested in American history, women's rights, or social justice.

Not for Ourselves Alone:The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Susan B. Anthony is a series that ran for 1 seasons (2 episodes) between November 7, 1999 and on PBS Documentaries