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Women in the French Revolution

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Women in the French Revolution
Women in the French Revolution

The French Revolution was a time of cast conflict that dramatically altered the political and social order of France. Women during the revolution period had many roles including they're political involvement, donation of time to revolutionaries, and contributions to ideologies. However, with all the contributions, women were still victimized by the changes that occurred. While these roles had a huge impact on the equality between mean and women this impact did not last. Individuals such as Olympe de Gouges and Marie-Jean Roland inspired women to become involved in the revolution because of their significant political achievements that are still discussed today. Without the service and intelligence women brought to France in this era, the revolution would not have progressed as it did.

During the French Revolution women demonstrated vast amounts of political participation. While doing their daily routines such as hauling water or shopping many women shared ideas and beliefs, which soon led them to participate in political and ceremonial functions. These social interactions led women to observe and often speak in many clubs, and as early as 1789 a few clubs exclusive to women began to appear. It was in these clubs that women learned to be vocal and became secretaries, made up part of delegations and commissions, and even aspired to the presidency. Women began to criticize societal attitudes and human institutions. Many felt that if they were given the same opportunities to be educated, they would have the same political positions in society as men. Their involvement in these clubs developed political visions, practices in the public sphere such as endorsements of the constitution of 1793, protests against women's political authority, and demands for the right to vote. The most prevalent of the clubs women participated in was "La Societe des Citoyennes Republiques Revolutionnaires" developed in 1793. They debated how to obtain food



Cited: Bridenthal, Renate; M.S Stuard; and E.M Wiesner. Becoming Visible: Women in European History. New York: Houghtan Mifflin Company, 1998 Dalton, Susan. "Gender and the Shifting Ground of Revolutionary Politics: The case of Madame Roland." Canada Journal of History 36.2 (2001): 252 Landes, B, Joan. Women and the Public Sphere: In the Age of the French Revolutin. New York: Cornell University Press, 1988 Maza, Sarah, and Sarah E. Melzer. "Rebel Daughters: Women and the French Revolution." The Journal of Interdisciplinary History 25.2 (1994): 303 Roessler, E.S. Out of the Shadows: Women and Politics in the French Revolution, 1789-95. New York: Peter Lang Publishing, Inc, 1996

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