Discussion Questions

  1. What influence did the journey on the Oregon Trail have on the life work of Abigail “Jenny” Scott Duniway? Have you made a long journey to arrive where you are? What has influenced you as you travel without a map?
  2. Early on, Jenny worried about not bringing disrepute onto Ben or her family. Was she successful in her life? What changed her attitude to make her more outspoken? What role did writing play in how she changed?
  3. How did the landscapes of the Northwest inspire and challenge Abigail’s view of the role of women in public life? Are there landscapes that you turn to for inspiration, respite, or escape?
  4. Biographies of Abigail paint a picture of a single-minded woman who traveled far and wide, was a prolific writer, outspoken and often acerbic in her interactions with others as she fought for justice for women and ran her businesses. This author focused on the vulnerable side of Abigail; her need for support from her family, especially from Ben, and her uncertainty at times. Which Abigail rings true, or are both reasonable explorations of a complicated woman? How are our own complexities mirrored in this activist’s story?
  5. What part did the loneliness and isolation of Hardscrabble Farm have on Abigail’s future endeavors? Have there been times when you’ve felt alone in a struggle? What helped you through it?
  6. Abigail was the descendant of Cumberland Presbyterian ministers from Illinois. Her father was an elder in Oregon. How did Abigail’s nurturing in the faith affect her efforts on behalf of women? Why did religious communities oppose women’s right to vote? Were Abigail’s strategies to address their worries successful?
  7. How did fashion affect the women’s movement? How did it influence Abigail’s activist life?
  8. Abigail grieved her daughter’s illness by traveling, going somewhere not so close to the pain, giving herself to work. How might her absence have been seen during that time? How does grief affect a life’s mission? What, if anything, did Abigail learn from grieving so many deaths in her life?
  9. Was Abigail the most successful suffragist in the West even though Oregon did not get the vote until 1912? After the defeat of 1884, how did Abigail keep going? Are there lessons for us in this century when we face uncertainty and defeat?
  10. Has your perspective on suffrage changed as a result of reading this woman’s story? If so, how?
  11. The author was once denied (in 1968) a public library card unless her husband signed for her to have it. Have you experienced the impact of a woman not having equal rights? How did it make you feel and what did you do about it?

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