Rights Of Women In The French Revolution Essay

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The French Revolution had started in 1789 with revolutionaries and radicals overthrowing the monarchy and creating change in government and ideals. Women had played a large role in the French Revolution. During the time period a societal change regarding the rights of women had begun to take place. Three women named, Etta Palm D’Aelders, Olympe De Gouges, and Pauline Leon all have made immense contributions to the development of the French revolution by advocating for equal gender rights, writing to the National Assemblies and Legislatures, and expressing patriotism for their country. A Dutch woman named Etta Palm D’Aelders wrote a pamphlet suggesting the creation of welfare programs in Paris and the idea of having exclusive women circles …show more content…

Etta was not only interested in divorce but also equality during marriage. Etta Palm d’Aelders had addressed the National Assembly to ask for equality in laws that affect marriage. She articulated that, “The laws cannot establish any difference between these two authorities; they must give equal protection and maintain a perpetual balance between the two married people.” Etta demands that each spouse have their own power and be treated the same. She backs up her statement by explaining, “Wouldn’t it be unjust to assign to the husband all the ease of vice, while the wife, whose fragile existence is subject to countless ills, would have the full difficulty of virtue for her share?” The point she makes is why would it be fair for the women to be burdened with all of the sadness and evil while a man is spared. She wanted marriage to be a fully equal and fair relationship between the two partners in both the eyes of the public and the law. Olympe de Gouges was a female writer during the French revolution and a moderate women’s rights activist who looked to advocate for fairness. She wrote her own declaration that mimicked the original “Declaration of the Rights of Man.” And also de Gouges wrote an “antislavery” play named L’Esclavage des Noirs (The Slavery of the Blacks) reprinted in 1792. Her play was originally created in