The women who were responsible for the wording of the Declaration [of Sentiments of the 1948 women's rights conference] were well aware that it was in the power of men to bring about change. If the prevailing situation were unsatisfactory to men, they could do something about it and unless and until they did 'put their own house in order', women were justified in claiming that the oppression of women suited men, that men were nothing other than tyrants, regardless of the account they gave of their own behaviour.