The French revolution was a period of transition not only in France but as well as much of Europe. It was experienced between 1789 and 1799. This was a period of ten years that saw radical changes not only to the political life of the French people but also the social and economic life. Before the revolution France was ruled by an absolute monarch.
French revolution was first witnessed in the year 1789.in the year 1792 June a number of women demonstrated towards the legislative chambers of the king1. Almost a year later they were demanding for a constitutional change (bread of constitution 1793).many of these women who advocated for these rights were publicly denounced, arrested, executed, and others went for exile. For instance the famous Theroigne de mericourt was deliberately arrested, she was then publicly flogged around the streets and then she was made to spend the rest of her life in an insane asylum.
This led to women practically putting bread on the table, this means that they were catering for the family. Women would march to the nearest government offices when they had nowhere else to get food from. This resulted in women getting tired therefore filing a petition against men which was filed directly to the king.
King of France of the time (Louis xvi) called for elections which other than dealing with financial problems which concerned women dealt with the issue of PARLIAMENT (how voting would take place). Since there were three estates: nobility, clergy, and the commoners, the nobility and the commoners joined to defeat the commoners
All this was caused by women realizing that they could not vote or hold any political office. They had no political rights in the revolutionary kingdom. Secondly they were referred to as inactive only to rely on men for assistance. To some men, a woman was a failed man and was taught only to be a good wife and a good mother2.
These problems led women to take advantage of the volatile political climate to vocalize their principles. They swore oaths of loyalty, declared patriotism and accepted to be responsible citizens. Pauline Leone with her society for revolutionary women was one woman who fought women rights to the bitter end.
When the commoners were defeated women formed clubs. Here many feministic ideas were born. These focused on getting bread for themselves, neighbors, expanding literacy and obtaining female freedom to gain power and also met to learn how to become leaders of a great nation rather than slaves to the husband even if it was a King and a livelong mother to the child. In addition to this the principle of equality of rights within the institution of marriage did extend the rights of widows in cases of property, public training as well as the right to divorce. Additionally it was decided that some professions were to be specifically for women like dressmaking and this was fully implemented3 (Levy et al. 1980).
Moreover some women had aristocratic power. Some of them opened intellectual saloons where debates would be held. A good example of this is Suzanne Necker.
However after women being incorporated in the government war broke out and they were ready to fight for their country with weapons other than needle and spindle. The government was against this and women were banned from the army.
Bibliography
- Jack, Censer, and Hunt Lynn. Liberty, Equality, Fraternity: Exploring the French Revolution. Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2001.
- Levy,Darlene and others, Women in Revolutionary Paris 1789 – 1795: Selected Documents Translated with Notes and Commentary. Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1980.
- Kennedy, Emmet. A Cultural History of the French Revolution. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1989.
Footnotes
- Censer jack and Lynn Hunt, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity: Exploring the French Revolution(Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2001) , 13-18.
- Kennedy Emmet, A Cultural History of the French Revolution (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1989).
- Darlene Levy and others, Women in Revolutionary Paris 1789 – 1795: Selected Documents Translated with Notes and Commentary, (Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1980).