WOMEN DURING THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

SIMRAN SINGH
11/13/15
HIS 392

WOMEN DURING THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

During the French Revolution, women often struggled and attempted to prove
their capabilities in comparison with men, and by building and participating politically
and socially many have left their marks by certain popular political interventions. Women
participated in every aspect to prove their capabilities and how equality reflected as an
important factor in proving their intellect and participation. Throughout the French
Revolution, there were many women that took chances in proving them selves to be
worthy and bring out their strength. Their intervention in certain events had a huge
impact, politically and socially, as it enlightened many on the power of women. There
were a few that disagreed with idea of women being in any power or being politically
involved. To prove their intellect, many women started taking steps that countered
towards political participation, and acknowledging the fact that they were just as capable
as men, if given the same education.
Although many were against women having any role in society, besides the role
of a housewife, some felt they should at least be given the right to an education. For
example, Jean-Jacques Rousseau published the most influential works on the subject of
women's role in society. In his book Emile, he described his vision of an ideal education
for women. Women should take an active role in the family, Rousseau insisted, by breastfeeding and educating their children, but they should not venture to take active positions
outside the home. Rousseau's writings on education electrified his audience, both male
and female. He advocated greater independence and autonomy for male children and
emphasized the importance of mothers in bringing up children. But many women

objected to his insistence that women did not need serious intellectual preparation for
life. 1
Women intervened in such an event that brought a drastic change on how serious the
government took the people. In October 1789, women marched to Versailles, furious
about the high bread prices and food shortages. They demand the king to supply bread
and come with them to Paris, where he should serve his people. The crowd grew and
many men joined these women, in order to gain support from the king and supply food.
Eventually, this event revealed the power of popular violence and women. Paris now
becomes the suit of government, including the King and his family, as well as the
National Assembly. Such an intervention somewhat portrayed how women shouldnt be
seen as just housewives, they had more to them and should be given more rights. Many
men also felt underestimated and strongly agreed that they should be given more rights.
Gradually, women began their journey as being more politically affiliated, by attending
meetings.
Jean-Paul Marat, a publisher for The Friend of the People, who published things
that accounted towards anyone against the Revolution. As a radical journalist, he highly
supported the revolution and despised anti-revolutionists. He was, however murdered by
Charlotte Corday who killed him in his own bathtub. She was assassinated shortly after
for such an act. Gradually, many women started to prove that they were able to provide
themselves and perhaps bring a change to society and other women as well. Olympe de
Gouges, was a butchers daughter from Montauban who managed to educate herself,
1 https://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/chap5a.html. Liberty, Equality,
Fraternity - Exploring the French Revolution, Women and the Revolution
Page 1

move to Paris, and live by her pen. She wrote plays and treaties on many subjects,
including the abolition of slavery as well as womens rights. 2 Olympe de Gouges wrote
a letter to the queen, in which she tries to connect with her and make the queen realize
that she, as a woman, should relate to what the other women are going through in terms
of equality. Gouges tries to inform the queen that in order to create a new revolution for
France, everyone must be a part of it and there shouldnt be gender inequality. She
mentions, when the whole empire accused you and held you responsible for its
calamities, I alone in a time of trouble and storm, I alone had the strength to take up your
defense. I have never been able to persuade myself that a princess raised in a midst of
grandeur, had all the vices of baseness 3
Women empowering women and standing up for each other reflected their
strength. As a woman, Gouges defended the Queen Marie Antoinette when Jacques Rene
Hebert accused her of sexually abusing her son Louis Charles, along with many other
accusations. However, such an accusation seemed to hurt many women, as they knew
that no mother would do such a thing, in which Gouges fully supported the queen. She
also wrote about the rights of women in the Declaration of Rights of Woman. Man, are
you capable of being just? It is a woman who poses the question; at least you will not
take away this right. Tell me, what has given you the sovereign empire to oppress my
sex? Your strength? Your talents?... Man alone has dressed up this exception as a
principle he pretends to enjoy the revolution and reclaim his rights to equality only to

2 Laura Mason, Tracey Rizzo, The French Revolution A Document

Collection (USA) Page 109
3 Laura Mason, Tracey Rizzo, The French Revolution A Document
Collection (USA) Page 110
4

say nothing more about it. 4 Gouges questions how men think of themselves as superior
and intellectual, when in reality they need to gain more knowledge and perhaps not be so
hypocritical when saying women have rights, but limit their rights as well.
Overtime, women started petitioning for womens rights to the National
Assembly, they were more active in bread riots, helped aid during war, and many started
jobs in salons for example. There were several laws that were passed, favorable for
women, however they were still not granted the right to vote as they were classified as
passive citizens. They were still denied political rights, but participated in several events
and festivals, the October Days for example. Since marriage was now a secular contract,
women were now able to divorce their husbands. Gradually, they were seen as nurturers,
and their image was used as symbols of the revolution. Being a symbol meant that they
should be just as equal as men and educated to be equal partners to husbands. Lack of
education made them feel sensitive, and not have any say or role in society. Although
women were seen as symbols of the revolution, there were contradictory images of
women, such as goddesses that were used to show virtue and reason. Some men saw
women that stepped out of the female role as a threat to the revolution. Perhaps they
noticed how politically involved and independent women could be, which sensed a threat
to their male ego. This caused women being pushed out of politics, and stated how their
virtue linked to only family, as wives and mothers. Aristocratic women were portrayed as
everything that was wrong with the old regime. They also portrayed Queen Marie
Antoinette as destroying the country and everything that was wrong with France. She
became a symbol of the wrong privileged.
4 Laura Mason, Tracey Rizzo, The French Revolution A Document
Collection (USA) Page 110-111
5

The participation of women during the French Revolution was quite controversial
since some men were not able to accept that most women were able to prove themselves
and be just as successful in fields only men were in. Although womens property rights
and financial independence met with many restrictions under French law and custom,
most men and women agreed with Rousseau and other Enlightenment thinkers that
women belonged in the private sphere of the home and therefore had no role to play in
public affairs. Most of Frances female population worked as peasants, shopkeepers,
laundresses, and the like, yet women were defined primarily by their sex (and
relationship in marriage) and not by their own occupations. 5 The gradual steps taken by
some women such as Charlotte Corday and Olympe de Gouges had an impact on other
women, since women are to inspire each other. Charlotte Corday portrayed a woman who
was confident enough to take a chance and demolish something that was spreading fear
amongst those who were innocent. Olympe de Gouges, on the other hand, speaks for
women and attempts to empower them with her words of wisdom and claims her rights to
equality. Throughout the French revolution, women have evolved in several aspects, but
granting them full equality and equal rights as men has always been controversial.

5 https://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/chap5a.html. Liberty, Equality,

Fraternity - Exploring the French Revolution, Women and the
RevolutionPage 1

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1.

Laura Mason, Tracey Rizzo, The French Revolution A

Document Collection (USA) Page 109-111

2.

https://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/chap5a.html. Liberty,
Equality, Fraternity - Exploring the French Revolution,
Women and the Revolution.