This response paper looks at the differences between ‘the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen’ and ‘the Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen’. This response paper highlights the differences between the two declarations.
The ‘Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen’ was adopted in France and affirms that all men are born equal. The declaration does not discuss anything related to women’s rights. The declaration is masculine in nature and does not consider women to have the same status as men. It states that men are born free with equal civil liberties which cannot be taken away from them (Anderson, 1908, p. 59).
The declaration further advances the argument that political systems only exist to preserve the rights of man. It looks at man as the origin of power which a sovereign state exercises. Sovereignty therefore is obtained from the will of the people. The freedoms outlined are to be practiced without injuring others as stipulated by existing laws.
The declaration also stipulates that established laws need to forbid actions that are considered to be harmful to the society. Article 6 of the declaration observes the right of all people in a society to participate in formation of laws either directly or indirectly. The dominant position that man is accorded in the society however does not change in the subsequent articles of the declaration.
The declaration sets standards to be followed regarding how penalties are to be administered to those citizens that break the law (Anderson, 1908, p. 60). The declaration upholds freedom of speech, the authority vested in government to administer taxes and the rights to own property. This declaration is masculine in its outlook but highlights strong civil liberties that have become synonymous with modern democratic societies.
The ‘Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen’ was constituted as a reaction to the ‘Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen’. The declaration sensitizes women to be aware of their rights in the society. It affirms that women are born with equal rights just like men and they should be treated fairly without any discrimination.
This declaration argues for the rights of women to own property and have liberties similar to those enjoyed by men in the society (Levy, Applewhite & Johnson, 1980, pp. 87-90). The sanctity of marriage as seen through the union of a man and a woman is stated. It states that the union of the two is the source of sovereignty from which the state obtains its power and legitimacy.
The declaration takes issue with male dominance; likening it to tyranny. It further takes the view that nature and reason should be the guiding principles used when forming laws. The laws formed must reflect the will of all in the society without any gender being given preferential treatment on how laws are to be applied. Women’s right to enjoy freedom of speech is upheld to give them a voice in the society.
It also states that men need to take care of their responsibilities as fathers. It argues that women need to be given equal access to opportunities in administration and other areas (Levy, Applewhite & Johnson, 1980, pp. 91-93). The declaration sensitizes women to overcome stereotypes and prejudices that have been used by men to deny them their rights.
References
Anderson, F.M. (1908). The constitution and other select documents illustrative of the history of France, 1789-1907. New York: Russell and Russell.
Levy, D.G., Applewhite, H.B., & Johnson, M.D. (1980). Women in revolutionary Paris. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press.