Women in the French Revolution - Essay Example

? Women in the French Revolution Outline Introduction 3 The changing roles of women 3 All-female clubs 4 Feminist movement 5 Women 6 Conclusion 7 Bibliography 9 Introduction The French Revolution was a movement that resulted irrevocable political and social change within France. It had a lasting impact not only for France but for England as a whole. Within a short period, the monarchy that had been the basis of France’s ruling system collapsed, and the principles of equality and rights became prominent. The French Revolution is commonly considered in the light of governmental changes and democracy; however another important aspect of this war was the women and the way that their rights were affected. There has been significant interest in the role of women during this time, particularly women writers who attempted to promote their opinions and desires through writing. Although women played a significant role in the French Revolution of 1789, this contribution was neither acknowledged nor rewarded. Instead, the concerns of women were relegated to the sidelines, and those that attempted to express or desire their own rights were suppressed1. Although the French Revolution brought about change for the country and resulted in the creation of a constitution, and a declaration detailing the rights of men, it was until 1944 that females were legally considered to be French citizens. Consequently, while the political environment of France was focused on the social change occurred as a result of the revolution, females were fighting for their rights, and striving for their voices to be heard2. The changing roles of women The French Revolution spurred many ideas about the role of women and significant debate about the way that women should be treated in society. Although many of these concepts were not new, but had been debated in the previous century, the change that accompanied the French Revolution increased passion and urgency in these ideas and brought them to the forefront3. The dominant culture in France prior to the Revolution as well as after it, considered females to be important in the domestic arena, and that it was not right for them to be involved in any public sphere4. However, the 17th century was the beginning of women gaining knowledge and seeking education for themselves. Women began to engage in discussion about subjects that had previously been beyond their reach, such as politics, science, literature and philosophy5. Because of this, women were beginning to form strong opinions of their own, and were gaining the strength to speak out against their male counterparts and against those in authority. A number of women played a significant political role during the French Revolution, despite the expectations of their society, which felt that females should be passive in terms of political expression6. All-female clubs In 1791, mid-way through the French Revolution, Etta Palm d’Aelders was responsible for the creation of the first club that was exclusively for females, known as the Society of Friends of the Truth7. Another club was formed in 1973 named the Society for Republican Revolutionary Women, which was created by Pauline Leon and Claire Lacombe. This club was strongly focused on the Revolution, and females who joined swore an oath of loyalty to the Republic and to the society. One argument that the co-founders of the society made was that women should have the right to bear arms and to govern. Less than five months after the society was first created a law was passed outlawing all women’s clubs8. Feminist movement During the French Revolution, the approaches that women took to their rights were significantly different, and can be broadly grouped into three categories. The first were theorists, such as Gouges, who focused on writing and on promoting the rights of women in general. The second group were female militants who believed that women should be heavily involved in fighting, and imagined armies of women battling against the enemies of the republic. The final group were members of the Society of Republican Revolutionaries9. However, the ideas and ideals of the women activists during the French Revolution were far from accepted, and they were denounced for inciting rebellion and division. Eventually, all of the women activists from this period were arrested, exiled or executed10. One of the most practical methods for females to express themselves during and after the French Revolution was through writing. During this time period, the two most prominent female writers were Manon Roland and Olympe de Gouges. Both of these women also played significant political roles during the process of the revolution. They used their writing as a way of influencing the perceptions and opinions of the public, fighting for equality for all people in France, male and female alike11. The advantage of writing was that the information could be publically distributed, and if necessary information could be published without revealing authorship. However, the feminist writers of the French Revolution are well known because their work provided a written record of the activist activities that occurred during this time that informed and inspired generations that followed them. Women writers Women as writers were not uncommon prior to the French Revolution, however, the reception and reviews that they reviewed were highly dependent on the subject matter that they addressed and the manner in which they considered it. Women were encouraged to write poetry, and were able to contributed in other areas as well, such as prose fiction, although at this time this form of writing discouraged for both males and females. However, it was difficult for a woman to write in the field of politics, philosophy or religion, unless her writing was of a specific approach. For example, most books and articles that females wrote in these fields were heavily criticized, yet some books on religion received high and enthusiastic reviews12. This suggests females were encouraged to publish where their perceptions were similar to those that were encouraged, or strengthened the position of those in authority. However, when the writing of females became a threat, it was heavily criticized. Many female writers of the French Revolution considered areas that were not considered to be feminine, or were highly charged with ideas and ideals that differed from the accepted norm. These authors wrote about women becoming educated, about increases in the status and the rights of women and in some cases about the right of women to bear arms and to fight for their country. Perhaps the most prominent writer during the French Revolution was Olympe de Gouges. De Gouges was a widow who had never remarried, leaving her in an unusual social position13. Through her writing she developed ideas about how women should be treated, and that they should have full equality compared to males. She distributed many pamphlets and brochures speaking out about women’s rights. Although there was no movement backing up her work, it did appear to threaten many, and she was eventually imprisoned and killed14. Conclusion Women played a significant role in the development of the French Revolution and many groups of women fully supported the Revolution, with some expressing the desire to fight for this concept. Nevertheless, while the French Revolution brought about considerable change for the structure of society and politics within France, women were mostly excluded from this changed and forced to fight for recognition. There were a number of female activists who protested this state of affairs, and sought an equal playing field for males and females. For those who fought for this perspective, the costs were high, and many were exiled or executed for their activism and disowned by those in authority. The equality and rights that the French Revolution promised were present for males, however, females remained repressed and constrained. Bibliography Beckstrand, L. Deviant Women of the French Revolution and the Rise of Feminism. (Madison, Fairleigh Dickinson University Press 2009). Mousset, S. Women's Rights and the French Revolution: A Biography of Olympe De Gouges. (New Brunswick, Transaction Publications 2007). Stafford, W. English Feminists and Their Opponents in the 1790s: Unsex'd and Proper Females (Manchester University Press 2011). Read More