/ caver Nidoua ion) a. | Gender Roles in the French Revolution : Women’s Q é { ParticipationQ Prepared By : SAKSHI 22501098 - BA ( prog.) 3 Year Q Submitted To: “ Mrs. Garima Prakash ~J this “brotherhood” did not include women in its vision of soliddgity. INfQODUETION The French Revolution (1789-1799) was a time of major political and social upheaval in France, centered around the ideals of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. These principles aimed to establish freedom from tyranny, equal rights for all citizens, and national unity. However, despite their promise, these ideals were largely applied only to men: 5 « iberty : Freedom from absolute monarchy and oppressive rule - but women still lacked personal, political, and legal freedom. + Equality : The end of privilege based on birth or class = yet women remained excluded from voting, education, and property rights. + Fraternity : A sense of unity and brotherhood among citizens - butWomen played a vital role in the Revolution - they marched in protests, participated in political clubs, published pamphlets, and demanded reforms. Yet, they were systematically excluded from political rights and full citizenship. The Revolution opened the door to new ideas about justice and representation, but it also revealed deep gender inequalities that persisted even amid radical change. .a “ROLE OF WOMEN BZFORE THe FRENCH REVOLUTION ae ae Before 1789, French society was deeply patriarchal. Women of alll social classes were legally and socially inferior to men, with few rights or public roles Legal and Political Status: + Women had no voting rights, no role in government, and were excluded from citizenship. Under the law, married women were considered dependents of their husbands and had no legal autonomy. Education and Intellectual Life: 7 + Most women received little to no formal education. Education, when available, focused on preparing girls to be obedient wives and mothers. Only elite women. @ hed access to reading, writing, and salon culture.Economic Roles and Labor: + Peasant women worked in agriculture, cared for livestock, and managed households. + Urban working-class women labored as laundresses, seamstresses, market vendors, and domestic servants - often underpaid and overworked. + Women in trades could sometimes inherit or manage small businesses but were rarely allowed to join guilds or rise in rank. / Social Expectations and Gender Norms: | + The Church and monarchy promoted the ideal woman as pious, silent, and domestic. Women's value was tied to marriage, fertility, and obedience. r Elite Women’s Limited Influence: > 4 + Noblewomen hosted salons (intellectual gatherings) where Enlightenment thinkers debated. leas of liberty and rights - but these women were still excluded from the political arena.Example Figures + Madame Geoffrin and Madame de Staél were known for hosting salons, influencing Enlightenment thinkers but not participating in public politics. +Most working-class women faced high taxes and food shortages, motivating them to later rise up during the Revolution. Normal guering of hiskere, People stending wolous shared ther iow ich topies as government, society, art and religion, which helped spread their ~~ ae are. | WOMEN'S EARLY INVOLVEMENT IN Trlé REVOLUTION + As the French Revolution began in 1789, women quickly moved from private life into the public sphere. Despite lacking formal rights, they became visible and active participants in revolutionary events. Economic Crisis and Food Shortages: ‘+ Women were the first to protest high bread prices, hunger, and inflation, since they were responsible for feeding their families 3 Participation in Public Demonstrations: + Women led and joined early protests and riots, often at the front lines. Their physical presence in public spaces challenged traditional gender roles. Active Political Engagement: + Some women began organizing political clubs, writing pamphlets, and petitioning revolutionary . authorities for equal rights and reforms.is Demand for Representation and Justice: Women questioned why the Revolution's promises of “liberty and equality” did not inclu them. They called for education, the right to divorce, and political participation Key Examples: | __+ Réveillon Riots (April 1789): + Working-class women participated in violent protests against rising bread prices and et wage cuts, signaling growing unrest just before the Revolution began. + Women's Petition to the National Assembly (1789): + Several groups of women submitted petitions demanding legal reforms, civil rights, and education. @ Presence at the Fall of the Bastille (July 14, 1789): . s fires less offen recognized, women were port of the crowds storming the BastiaA depiction of the Reveillon riots of April 1789 The Réveillon riots refer to violent unrest that erupted in the eastern quarter of Paris in April 1789, irrevocably abolished throughout France. i. The masculine genre will no longer be regardec ‘the same authority 1en’s P National Asse: All the privileges of the male sex are The feminine sex will always enjoy the same liberty, advantages, rights and honors as does the masculine sex. ‘as the more noble genre... all being should be and are equally noble. . In the household both parties should enjoyThe Women's March on Versailles was one of the most dramatic and influential events led by women during the French Revolution. It marked a turning point in their political visibility and power. Cause: Bread Shortages and Economic Crisis France was suffering from widespread famine and inflation. Bread prices soared, leaving working-class families starving. Women, responsible for feeding their families, took action. Who Participated: @yver 6,000 women — mostly working-class fishmongers, market women, and. mothers — marched from Paris to the royal palace at Versailles, 12 miles way.What Happened ? demanded bread, justice, and the King’s return to Paris. « They stormed the palace gates and confronted the guards. * They forced King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette to return «Armed with kitchen knives, farming tools, and muskets, they with them to Paris, effectively placing the monarchy under house arrest at the Tuileries Palace.Significance: * Political Victory: * The women’s action directly pressured the monarchy and shifted political power to Paris. » Symbol of Popular Sovereignty: j * The march demonstrated the strength of the people — especially women — in shaping national politics. » Empowerment and Visibility: * It showed that women were not only part of the Revolution but ‘also capable of leading it.Olympe de Gouges (1748-1793) + Role: Playwright, political writer, and feminist, + Major Contribution: + Authored the Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen (1791), a direct response to the male-only Declaration of the Rights of Man. + Argued for women’s legal, political, and social equality. + Fate: Executed by guillotine in 1793 for opposing the radical Jacobins and i defending the rights of women and the monarchy. + Legacy: Seen as a pioneering voice for feminism and universal human rightsCharlotte Corday (1768-1793) + Role: Royalist sympathizer turned _ political assassin. * Major Contribution: + Assassinated Jean-Paul Marat, a radical Jacobin leader, in 1793. * Claimed she did it to stop the violence of the Reign of Terror. + Fate: Publicly tried and executed by guillotine * Legacy: Sparked debates on women's political Zt agency and moral responsibility Loe* Théroigne de Méricourt (1762-1817) + Role: Political activist and speaker. * Major Contribution: + Participated in the storming of the Bastille and the Women’s March on Versailles. * Called for women to take up arms and form a female militia. « Fate: Later attacked by political opponents; institutionalized due to mental health decline. + Legacy: Became a symbol of militant female activism during the Revolution.- “Name Role/Identity Contributions / Significance Madame Roland (Marie-Jeanne) Political salonniére, Girondin leader Hosted a politica salon; influenced Girondin policies; arrested and executed in 1783 Pauline Léon Activist, co-founder of the Society of Revolutionary Republican Women ‘Advocated for women’s right to bear arms and fight for the Republic. Claire Lacombe Actress, revolutionary leader ‘co-founded the Society of Revolutionary Republican Women; active in radical protests Louise Reine Audu Market woman, revolutionary heroine Helped lead the Women's March on Versailles; later Imprisoned for her activism, Manon Balletti Letter writer, social observer Wrote detalled leters reflecting women’s personal and social struggles during the Revolution, Madame de Staél Writer, intellectual, critic of Napoleon Promoted uberal ideas; criticized extremism and authoritarianism; influential after the Revolution. Anne-Joséphe Théroigne -al orator /Advocated for women's rights, participated in protests ater targeted by opponents,1 Ps - WOMEN’S POLITICAL CLUBS AND FEMINIST MOVEMENTS — 7 ’ During the French Revolution, women began organizing politically for the i first time in French history. They formed clubs, societies, and informal *s. networks to advocate for their rights and influence revolutionary politics. 1. Emergence of Women's Political Clubs € * Women created their own political organizations to discuss revolutionary ideas and demand gender equality. + These clubs were inspired by Enlightenment ideals and male-led revolutionary groups, but focused on women's specific rights and needs.2. Key Example : Society of Revolutionary Republican Women Hu (1793) i » Founded by: Pauline Léon and Claire Lacombe. »* Membership: Mostly working-class women from Paris. * Goals: * Defend the Revolution from counter-revolutionaries. * Demand women's right to bear arms. * Call for price controls, food security, and gender equality. + Activities: Participated in protests, monitored political enemies, and fought for social justice.3. Government Backlash and Suppression * In late 1793, the National Convention banned all women's clubs and political societies, claiming they were too radical and disruptive. + Many female activists were arrested, silenced, or executed. * This marked a turning point: women were pushed out of the political sphere despite their active involvement, 5 * Summary Point + Women’s political clubs were bold attempts to claim space in revolutionary politics. Although short-lived, they were early expressions of organized feminism and set the stage for future women's movements.ewe OPPOSITION TO WOMEN’S RIGHTS DURING THE REVOLUTION + Many revolutionary leaders believed women's role was limited to the home and family, not politics, + Jean-Jacques Rousseau argued that women should serve the nation through motherhood, not public life. + Women were denied the right to vote or hold public office, even in revolutionary governments. + Female political clubs were banned in 1793 by the National Convention for being too radical, + Prominent women like Olympe de Gouges and Claire Lacombe were arrested or executed. + The Jacobins saw outspoken women as threats to social order and revolutionary unity. + Revolutionary ideals of liberty and equality were defined as male-only rights. ~ =CONCLUSION / (Impact of Women’s Participation) 1. Political Awakening + Women’s involvement sparked the first widespread demand for equal political rights ; and recognition. + Pioneers like Olympe de Gouges laid the foundation for modern feminism. 2. Social and Economic Influence + Women led protests that addressed bread shortages, inequality, and economic injustice. # Their actions helped pressure political change (e.g., Versailles march, food riots).3. Short-Term Setbacks * Despite active participation, women were excluded from formal power. * Revolutionary governments banned women’s clubs and punished i outspoken activists. * Many women were executed, imprisoned, or silenced. 4, Long-Term Legacy * The Revolution inspired future feminist and democratic movements in France and globally. * Women's courage and activism became a symbol of resistance and social justice. * Their participation highlighted the contradictions in revolutionary ideals and expanded the debate on universal rights.see ELLA fous = ae Ween Weer SA,