Sunday, January 13, 2008

The Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen

The Women's March on Versailles, October 1789

What rights for French women does this document assert? Given the nature and scope of argument in favor of women's rights here, what key effects on European society can you now attribute to the French Revolution? Are there any of Olympe de Gouges’ “Rights of Women and of Female Citizens” which have yet to be achieved in western society? If so, which ones, and why? (page 541)

4 comments:

Danny P said...

During those times, it was strange to see women banding together in such a way as to actually march down the street with pikes and other weapons. This shows an important change in womens position in society. No longer will they sit idle and take in all the hardship caused to them. This print is a symbol of a new age of thinking in women. There is still unfair treatment toward women, but compared to how it use to be, it is not as severe. Women have come a long way to which they can even run for presidency, but unfair treatment still happens in a lot of job environments. I have heard lots of stories of females and males applying for the same position, with almost the same quality of experience, but they male is still chosen. Society still needs to work out ignorant actions such as those.

Mr. Lisec said...

I like Danny's comment on the historical image that goes with the post. He rightly points out that even today there are still gender inequalities. These are interesting days though, he points out, in that one of the two leading Democratic potential nominees for President is a woman.

However, I think I may have erred in putting up the image, in that it confuses matters. What I really want you all to respond to is the
"Declaration of the Rights of Woman" on page 541.

Unknown said...

You mean page 543. =D


The document asserts womens rights to equality. Olympe De Gouges(Marie Gouze) basically paraphrases the Declaration of the rights of man and the citizen but to include women.

There are three main "rights" that Marie mentions that I believe have yet to be filled, or are proven to be bias(good for women bad for men).
The first one is obvious her first point that woman is born free and lives equal to man in her rights. Women still are not paid equally or treated as equally in the workplace.

The second one would be #6 The law must contribute to the general will male and female must be equal in the eyes of the law must be equally admitted to positions honors etc...well as Danny already pointed out a female and male that apply for the same position with the same qualities, but the male is chosen, is simply all too common these days. And LASTLY, the one I think is Bias towards women is #7.

No woman is an exception, if she is accused arrested or detained by law...etc, this is like the patriarchs compensation for women. Women are less likely to be accused of wrongdoing than men. In cases of spousal abuse, cases of men battering women are more common then women battering men.(And it does happen.)Western society has yet to truly make everyone equal.

Fadie Yusuf said...

What Danny is saying is totally true back in those days it was blastony and unheard of for woman to protest anything especially Womans Rights. Many Womans rights are yet to be acheived in Western society today such as woman who apply for certain feilds in the work force and get rejected due to the fact that they are female inferior and not male superior to western society.