The French Revolution’s Influence on the Fight for Women's Rights (Research Paper Sample)

The French Revolution’s Influence on the Fight for Women's Rights
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Word Count: 2265 Words
The French Revolution’s Influence on the Fight for Women's Rights
Abstract
The French Revolution of 1787 was a significant period in European political history and the fight for equality between men and women. Coming at a time when women were subordinate to men in almost every sphere of life, the Revolution initiated the subsequent gradual restructuring of the societal norms and policy framework on the position of women. During this era, women actively participated in the civil struggles for political emancipation. Therefore, this paper seeks to establish the positive impacts of the French Revolution on the battle for gender equality in France and larger Europe. Though the Revolution did not politically liberate the female gender, women found the platform to advocate for their rights while actively participating in the course. The French Revolution-era of 1787 disgruntled the popular Rousseauian strain of enlightenment which relegated women to a subordinate level while embracing mainstream civilization, which had more extensive views on the capabilities of women.[Sharpley-Whiting, T. Denean. Black French Women and the Struggle for Equality, 1848-2016. U of Nebraska Press, 2018. (P. 213)] [Fuson, Olivia. "Marie Antoinette's Sacrifice and the Fragmentation of French Femininity." Aisthesis: Honors Student Journal 9, no. 1 (2018): 12-18. (P. 16).] [Scott, Joan Wallach. "French feminists and the rights of man: Olympe de Gouges's declarations." In History Workshop, pp. 1-21. Editorial Collective, History Workshop, Ruskin College, 1989. (P. 21).]
Introduction
The French Revolution originated from the mainstream strains of civilization ideas. As opposed to the Rousseauian strains of enlightenment, which relegates women to domestic and material support, the former holds more extensive views of women and their capabilities. Besides, it pioneered a significant historic moment in European and global history as it marked the dawn of the Enlightenment period. Also known as the Revolution of 1789 this particular historical moment in the European civilization story sprouted in 1789 and lasted for twelve years, reaching its first climax in 1789. According to Annie Marie, the French Revolution not only denoted the end of the ancien regime but also pioneered later French revolutions of 1830 and 1848. However, it was the most violent and universally significant of these revolutions. Most notably, in pre-Revolutionary France, women held no political rights and privileges. Consequently, unlike their male counterparts, women never enjoyed voting rights nor could they hold any political office. Fuson Olivia describes the women of this era as passive citizens whose fate in the political space depended on their male counterparts. The societal norms and established policy frameworks in the pre-French Revolution era largely confined women to the private sphere. While men enjoyed absolute dominance, their domestic duties and family obligations dictated women's conduct and behaviors. However, at the dawn of the French Revolution, equality and comradely captivated women across all spheres of life. Palm Etta denotes that the Revolution offered a platform and environment to voice their political opinions and grievances. Although women did not gain the right to vote due to the course, the era expanded their political participation and involvement in leadership and