The Impact of the French Revolution on the Role of Women

 

Women participation in the French Revolution included the different aspects of the revolution yet proved to be controversial in many times. The status of women in the family has been regarded as subject of polemics and this is in the society too. In the 18^th century, women's rights were the most things to be focused on in order to improve the status of women. Enlightening writers could often take a traditional stance related the question of women as they regarded women as being different in their biological and social status from men referring them only to domestic roles within their families rather than being in public or sharing the political events. An example of them was Jean-Jacques Rousseau who presented his views in books such as Emile where he described how the ideal education for women should be. His views were all about the importance of women's breastfeeding and teaching for their children themselves but at the same time he insisted on not involving them within the public society. His focus was more on the education of male children with discrimination in what is delivered for males as education and that of female students. Yet under French laws, many of women's rights were districted as before 1789 ideas such as women's rights were not heard in spite of listening to the voices of minorities' rights including Jews, black and others. Afterwards, women began to take roles in the public life with some restrictions under the French laws and custom. People at that time mostly regarded the role of women as working at homes and belonging to the private area of her home and family without focusing on the public participation of women. Most women from the lower social classes worked in simple jobs as peasants, shopkeepers, laundresses and other simple jobs that couldn't support them as workers in the society as marriage and making a family were the most important interests women would focus on. After the Bastille fall on 14 July 1789, the role of women turned to change a little bit as women crowded to ask for accounting from the king walking from Paris. After that women were able to participate in attending meetings and joining political clubs till the leading intellectual Marie-Jean Caritat, Marquis de Condorcet published her article regarding women's rights in the newspaper demanding the political rights for women. Many campaigns were launched afterwards to support giving women the rights to vote and share as men in political affairs.