Sylvia B. Seaman

Sylvia B. Seaman was an American women's suffrage activist who worked to promote public awareness of breast cancer and women's health. In 1995 Seaman died of breast cancer, however, her legacy lies within her novels, and efforts to increase public awareness of breast cancer and women's health.

Early life

Sylvia B. Seaman, originally known as Sylvia Bernstein, was born in Manhattan on November 8, 1900. In 1915 Seaman marched in her first women's suffrage march, prompting heavy participation in women's activism from her teenage years forward.

Soon after becoming involved in the women's rights movement, Seaman was arrested for wearing riding breeches in public. This act was seen as "unbecoming" of a lady and was not tolerated at this point in the twentieth century. She went on to write articles for magazines and newspapers with her roommate, Frances Schwartz, under the pseudonym of Francis Sylvin. Seaman published under a male alias in order for her works to be taken more seriously.

In 1955, Sylvia Seaman wrote a novel titled, Glorious to View with her lifelong friend, Francis Wexler Schwartz that detailed their time as students at Cornell University from 1918 to 1922. Seaman used the novel as an outlet to share her experiences as a woman on a predominantly male campus, and the challenges she faced as a result. Her unique ability to speak to women in a similar situation forged the way for other women to attend higher education and have their voices heard. Sylvia remained connected to Cornell University throughout her life, even serving as the class correspondent for more than 50 years. This novel remains in manuscript form in the archives at Cornell University.

Their 1952 novel Miracle Father told the story of a couple conceiving a child through artificial insemination. When the novel was republished in 1968, it was retitled as Test-Tube Father. Ultimately, she believed strongly in women's activism and educating the public on women's health issues that were rarely talked about at the time.

In addition to continuing to tell her story and educate the public about breast cancer, Seaman spoke out about several other controversial issues within the realm of women's health and sexuality. Often she spoke out about abortion and its importance, along with lesbianism and other sexual orientations that were highly avoided within the media.