Gender equality, men and women have the same rights and obligations and everyone has the same opportunities in society, has been a topic of discussion for men and women for centuries (Dorious and Firebaugh). For many centuries, women have used literature as a voice to defend their rights as women. Women authors achieved extraordinary success in literature in a culture that frowned upon female literary desire, but men continued to dominate the profession (Dorious and Firebaugh). Well into the nineteenth century, it was common for both male and female writers to publish under a pseudonym. Fiction was a genre that was often published anonymously. Fiction was considered a low literary genre, leading many authors to detach their name from the piece of fiction. Especially for women, the cloak of anonymity was particularly essential (Dorious and Firebaugh). Female proclamation and self-disclosure were seen as unfeminine. Therefore, writing under the identity of a male name would protect a woman from criticism for unfeminine thoughts. The male alias could potentially increase a woman's chances of receiving a bias-free review. Throughout history, women have had a weak voice in the literary world due to fear of the power they held and lack of respect for female authors. The first women's rights convention was organized by 68 women and 32 men in 1848. As a result, a document entitled “The Declaration of Sentiments” was created, fighting for the quality of women (Zink-Sawyer). Based on the format of the “Declaration of Independence,” Elizabeth Cady Stanton created a document with the primary goal of ensuring equal rights for women and how these women would obtain those rights. The Declaration of 1848... middle of paper... 1848). Print.George Eliot: biographical materials. 1 August 2013. Web. 9 February 2014. Hadjiafxendi, Kyriaki. "Gender and the question of women". Harris, Margaret. George Eliot in context. UK: MPG Books Group, 2013. 137-144. Print.Rowlings, JK The so far not particularly glamorous life of JK Rowling. February 16, 2007. Web. February 8, 2014. Stanton, Elizabeth Cady. “Statement of Sentiments and Resolutions.” VanEsveld Adams, Kimberly. "Female divinity, feminist symbol: the Madonna in George Eliot, Ludwig Feuerbach, Anna Jameson and Margaret Fuller". Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion, Vol. 12, no. 1 (1996): 41-70. Web.Zink-Sawyer, Beverly A. "From Preachers to Suffragettes: Enlisting the Pulpit in the Early Years. Women's Rights Movement." Atq 14.3 (2000): 193. Premier Academic Research. Net.