The French revolution involved the rise of the lower class in the society against the leadership as provided by the monarchy and the clergy. The widening disparities between classes in the society were particularly alarming owing to the exploitation of the poor from the actions of the rich. In this case, the revolution sought to correct this construed position. As such, the fight for the Common Man’s rights was part of the revolution. However, an interesting situation erupted in the course of the revolution. Women, who were treated as second class citizens in their own countries introduced their own version of the fight for their rights, in a similar fashion, as those of men. This trend sought to break the glass ceiling that prevented the accordance of similar rights that were available to men from being associated with women. In addition, the consideration of the widely ignored roles played by women in the family and societal structures reached a critical point, leading to women engaging in the revolution for their advancement. As a result, this approach begs the question, ‘What role did women play in the French Revolution?’ This paper will direct the focus on the assessment of the French Revolution, in respect to the role played by women in the movement. Also by drawing on the inferences from Women of Revolutionary Paris 1789-1795 and Liberty the lives and times of six women in revolutionary France, the examination of women’s role will be critically provided.
The French Revolution was an important event in France’s history. This was a revolt against the government of the day, as established by an absolute monarchy. The French society had been segregated in terms of economic classes, with the bourgeois or the workers at the bottom while the proletariat or capitalists occupying the top position. In this case, the bourgeois were comprised of workers who labored in farms owned by the capitalists. In terms of social divisions, the French society was composed of the first order, which was made up of nobles, the second order, made up of the clergy, and finally, the third order, which was constituted by the common man.
As a result, the lower class was exploited heavily by the other classes, as evidenced in the tax burdens they had to submit to the state. The economic and social positions of the majority of common men in France were adversely affected as a result of various factors. In this case, the nation was engulfed in a massive national debt that resulted from her participation in the American Revolutionary War and the Seven Year’s War. These events were identified as costly mistakes which were meant to be corrected by the common man. In addition, an inefficient tax system imposed higher taxes on the lower class while absolving the first and second orders. To compound an even worse situation, France experienced tough environmental conditions that led to massive losses in harvest, the primary economic activity of the lower class. As a result, the lower class protested against the evident social and economic inequalities and the burdens imposed to them by the other classes of the society. In this effect, this situation ignited spirited resistance against the state, or the Anime Regime. In this effect, the above situations provided ideal grounds of a resistance that became the French Revolution. This movement, led partly by Napoleon Bonaparte, aimed at correcting class disparities in the society, as well as the ascertainment of the Declaration of Rights of the Common Man.
According to Moore, during the age of Enlightenment, writers took a traditional stance in relation to the role of women in the society. In this case, it was considered that women were biologically, and as such, socially different from men. As a result, they were expected to focus on their families, and not on politics. One such writer was Rousseau. In his book Emile, he indicates that women should focus on their families and breastfeed and educate their children his stance on women requiring an education in preparation of life elicited mixed feeling from both men and women. In addition, Rousseau did not support the venturing of women in politics but rather indicated their place was in their homes.
Prior to 1789, the pleas for women’s rights fell on the monarchy’s deaf ears, as opposed to other underprivileged groups, such as Jews, Protestants, and black people. This is because it was not believed that women were a persecuted group and as such could not receive the attention they needed as the other groups. A majority of men and women agreed with Rousseau and his call for women to focus on the private sphere of their families and disregard, the public sphere. Women at this time worked in different occupations such as laundresses and shopkeepers, but were only identified on the basis of their sex or their position in marriage, as opposed to their occupations.
Throughout this time, the place of women in the society was insignificant. In this regard, according to Levy, Applewhite, and Johnson, women were considered to be politically passive and were less involved in politics, unless under exceptional circumstances, than compared to their male counterparts. On the contrary, in Revolutionary Paris, women asserted themselves politically, due to the exceptional situations that were as a result of the stressful economic situation as described above. In this regard, the protest for reforms was guided by the need for women to have their rights and freedoms recognized legally, through the constitution, as well as socially, by the nation. The participation of women took effect in two different aspects or considerations. The first category was comprised of elitists, women with rich backgrounds, whereas the second category involved poor women, who made up the bulk of the French society women. The elitists, as expected, were educated and as such, aligned their protests along the considerations of social, economic, and political demands. In this regard, they called for the need to have transformations in family and economic structures in a bid to drive for the recognition of women’s role in the society.
In this case, these women used the premise of the fact that women were responsible for molding France’s future citizens as well as repositories of societal values. As such, they should be accorded the respect and recognition they deserved. In addition, they wanted women to be accorded the same legal rights in obligations as made available to men. This aspect comprised of divorce rights, as well as an extension of inheritance rights to widowed mothers. Also, they wanted equal educational opportunities to girls, as well as vocational training for women undertaking midwifery vocations.
On the other hand, the demands of poor women, also referred to as Sans Culottes were less radical than compared to those indicated above. However, their impact and influence provided a cause of worry to the monarchy as a result of their provision of supplies to the Parisian populace hence had the potential to pose a political deterrent according to the authorities. This is evident in some instances where they protested against price increases or shortages of bread, the dietary staple. In this case, they were majorly focused on economic demands. As such, women were indicated as likely to participate in legal tactics, such as petitioning, than compared to men. For instance, they participated in shouting matches at spectator galleries, jeering local and national magistrates and judges. In addition they engage in taxation populaire where they seized merchandize from shopkeepers and grocers and sold it to the crowds at ‘just’ prices that were determined by the public. Once this was done, they gave the individual the money collected from this activity.
The realization of political intervention with respect to addressing human rights was made upon the Estates-General meeting that comprised of the nobility, clergy, and the third estate as commissioned by Louis XVI. In this instance, different groups presented their petitions for their rights to be considered. However, women were not involved in this process. However, some women sent petitions to the King, explaining their consideration for basic rights of property, marriage, and better education. However, as Moore notes, the call for women’s rights by women was a dangerous affair. In this case, iconic women in France who called for equality were sentenced to prison. Some of these included, Pauline Leon, Olympe de Gouges, who published radical pamphlets such as the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen, Robespierre, Germaine de Stael, Theroigne de Mericourt, and Manon Roland
The role of women in the revolution was accentuated in the now popular, March to Versailles. Following the rumors that the Kings guard had trampled the revolutionary colors of red, white, and blue, and that they were planning a counterrevolution, women marched Versailles to demand accounting by the King. Amidst the prevailing bread shortage, the women walked a distance of twelve miles from Paris in the rain. The bravery act of these women demonstrated to other men and women as they joined their mission. As a result, the King agreed relocate with his family back to Paris.
Bibliography
Godineau, Dominique, The women of Paris and their French Revolution (Hoboken: University of California Press, 2005), 10-23.
Levy, Darline, Harriet, Applewhite, Mary, Johnson, Women in Revolutionary Paris (Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1981), 5-32.
Moore, Lucy, Liberty: The Lives and Times of Six Women in Revolutionary France (London: Harper Perennial, 2007), 5-24.
Mousset, Sophia, Women’s Rights and the French Revolution: A Biography of Olympe de Gouges (New York: Transaction Publishers, 2011), 11-20.
Proctor, Candice, Women, Equality, and the French Revolution (New York: Routledge, 2006), 15-40.
Shusterman, Noah, The French Revolution: Faith, Desire, and Politics (New York: Routledge, 2013), 15-62.
