Mary Jane Owen

(1813-1871) Women's rights advocate – New Harmony. Mary Jane was a speaker on equality for women. Her husband was Robert Dale Owen. She heard Robert speak in New York and told her mother that he was the homeliest man she had ever seen and that she was going to marry him. They were married at her parents' home in 1832. They stated that they were equal partners and did not have a minister because they did not believe in ministerial authority. They had seven children, three of whom died young. Mary Jane was a friend of Frances Wright. When her children were grown, she gave speeches on equality, particularly on the issue of higher wages. The family moved to Italy when Robert was named to a diplomatic position there. Undoubtedly Mary Jane influenced her husband in the area of women's equality. He worked as a legislator to secure property rights for women and got divorce laws changed to protect women from abusive husbands.