1. Class:-*9*C
Roll No-24

2. Role Of Women in
French
Revolution

3. What was the
role of
women in the
French
Revolution?

4. The
French
Revolutio
n

5. The Cultural Climate
Liberty! Equality! Fraternity!Liberty! Equality! Fraternity!
Enlightenment ideals.Enlightenment ideals.
The term “citizen” becomesThe term “citizen” becomes
more widely used, instead ofmore widely used, instead of
gender specific titles.gender specific titles.

6. Female
Soldiers

7. The Intervention of theThe Intervention of the
Sabine WomenSabine Women by Davidby David

8. Théroigne de
Mericourt
1762-1817Participated in theParticipated in the
uprising of August 10uprising of August 10thth
..
I was at ease playing theI was at ease playing the
role of a man because Irole of a man because I
was always extremelywas always extremely
humiliated by thehumiliated by the
servitude and prejudicesservitude and prejudices
under which men’s prideunder which men’s pride
keeps our sex oppressed.keeps our sex oppressed.

9. Renée Bordereau
Became known as theBecame known as the
“Vendean Joan of Arc”“Vendean Joan of Arc”
Fought against theFought against the
Republicans to avengeRepublicans to avenge
the deaths of 42 of herthe deaths of 42 of her
family members on thefamily members on the
Royalist sideRoyalist side
Later imprisoned byLater imprisoned by
Emperor NapoleonEmperor Napoleon

10. Other Female Soldiers
FranFrançoise Deprésçoise Deprés
 Messenger, provisioner, troop leaderMessenger, provisioner, troop leader
 Easily recognized because she wasEasily recognized because she was
missing an eye so she was oftenmissing an eye so she was often
imprisonedimprisoned
Jeanne RobinJeanne Robin
 Kept her sex a complete secretKept her sex a complete secret
 Only told her general’s wife because sheOnly told her general’s wife because she
needed a lighter weight jacket butneeded a lighter weight jacket but
couldn’t ask him without giving up hercouldn’t ask him without giving up her
covercover

11. The October Days
October 5, 1789October 5, 1789
Market-women fromMarket-women from
Paris marched to theParis marched to the
palace in Versaillespalace in Versailles
Angry over theAngry over the
increase in breadincrease in bread
prices and food shortagesprices and food shortages
““Tear out the Queen’s heart and fry herTear out the Queen’s heart and fry her
liver!”liver!”

12. Feminists

13. MaryMary
WollstonecraftWollstonecraft
1759-17971759-1797
AA
VindicationVindication
of theof the
Rights ofRights of
WomanWoman
(1791)(1791)

14. A Vindication of theA Vindication of the
Rights of WomanRights of Woman
“…“…Civilized women are, therefore, so weakened by falseCivilized women are, therefore, so weakened by false
refinement, that, respecting morals, their condition is muchrefinement, that, respecting morals, their condition is much
below what it would be were they left in a state nearer tobelow what it would be were they left in a state nearer to
nature… To remain, it may be said, innocent; they mean in anature… To remain, it may be said, innocent; they mean in a
state of childhood… Fragile in every sense of the word, theystate of childhood… Fragile in every sense of the word, they
are obliged to look up to man for every comfort… if fear inare obliged to look up to man for every comfort… if fear in
girls, instead of being cherished, perhaps, created, weregirls, instead of being cherished, perhaps, created, were
treated in the same manner as cowardice in boys, we shouldtreated in the same manner as cowardice in boys, we should
quickly see women with more dignified aspects…quickly see women with more dignified aspects… I do notI do not
wish them to have power over men; but over themselveswish them to have power over men; but over themselves…”…”

15. Olympe de Gouges
1748 - 1793
Declaration ofDeclaration of
the Rights ofthe Rights of
Women andWomen and
the Femalethe Female
CitizenCitizen
(1791)(1791)

16. From De Gouges’ Declaration of
the Rights of Woman and the
Female Citizen
Woman, wake up… discover your rights.Woman, wake up… discover your rights.
Oh, women, women! When will you cease to be blind?Oh, women, women! When will you cease to be blind?
Regardless of what barriers confront you, it is inRegardless of what barriers confront you, it is in
your power to free yourselves; you have only to wantyour power to free yourselves; you have only to want
to…to…
I offer a foolproof way to elevate the soul of women;I offer a foolproof way to elevate the soul of women;
it is to join them to all the activities of man…it is to join them to all the activities of man…
Man… Tell me, what gives you sovereign empire toMan… Tell me, what gives you sovereign empire to
oppress my sex?oppress my sex?

17. Aims of the Declaration of
the Rights of Woman
Education for womenEducation for women
Equal opportunities for womenEqual opportunities for women
 In employmentIn employment
 A claim to landA claim to land
Equality for women in the eyes of theEquality for women in the eyes of the
lawlaw
 Women must receive equalWomen must receive equal
punishmentspunishments

18. Aims, Continued
A social contract between men and women inA social contract between men and women in
marriagemarriage
 All wealth is sharedAll wealth is shared
 In the case of separation all property dividedIn the case of separation all property divided
 Women and men equal in a marriageWomen and men equal in a marriage
Women’s suffrageWomen’s suffrage
A national assembly of womenA national assembly of women
Equal rights for womenEqual rights for women
 Natural rightsNatural rights
 Freedom of speechFreedom of speech

19. Other Feminists
&Etta PalmEtta Palm
Petitioned for education andPetitioned for education and
legal rights for womenlegal rights for women
&Claire LacombeClaire Lacombe
Organized a club ofOrganized a club of
RevolutionaryRevolutionary RepublicanRepublican
CitizenessesCitizenesses

20. Women’s Petition to the
National Assembly (1789)
i.i.All the privileges of the male sex areAll the privileges of the male sex are
irrevocably abolished throughout France.irrevocably abolished throughout France.
ii.ii.The feminine sex will always enjoy the sameThe feminine sex will always enjoy the same
liberty, advantages, rights and honors as doesliberty, advantages, rights and honors as does
the masculine sex.the masculine sex.
iii.iii.The masculine genre will no longer beThe masculine genre will no longer be
regarded… as the more noble genre… all beingregarded… as the more noble genre… all being
should be and are equally noble.should be and are equally noble.
iv.iv.…… In the household both parties should enjoyIn the household both parties should enjoy
the same authoritythe same authority

21. Women’s Petition, Continued
v.v. That wearing breeches will no longer be theThat wearing breeches will no longer be the
exclusive prerogative of the male sex, but each sexexclusive prerogative of the male sex, but each sex
will have the right…will have the right…
vi.vi.When a soldier has… compromised French honor, heWhen a soldier has… compromised French honor, he
will no longer be degraded… [by] making him wearwill no longer be degraded… [by] making him wear
women’s clothing…women’s clothing…
vii.vii.All persons of the feminine sex must be admittedAll persons of the feminine sex must be admitted
without exception to the direct and departmentalwithout exception to the direct and departmental
assemblies…assemblies…
viii.viii.They can also be appointed as Magistrates…They can also be appointed as Magistrates…
ix.ix.The same applies to all positions, compensations,The same applies to all positions, compensations,
and military dignities…and military dignities…
x.x.Nor do we hesitate to open the sanctuary to theNor do we hesitate to open the sanctuary to the
feminine sex…feminine sex…

22. Petition of Women of the
Third Estate to the King
 Written in respectful, polite terms, insistingWritten in respectful, polite terms, insisting
changes, not demanding them (changes, not demanding them (January 1, 1789)January 1, 1789)
 Better educationBetter education
 Representation for womenRepresentation for women
 Jobs which would open only to women, soJobs which would open only to women, so
prostitution would endprostitution would end
 Resented that daughters were treated differentlyResented that daughters were treated differently
than sons and that old unmarried women werethan sons and that old unmarried women were
scornedscorned
 ““We ask to be enlightened, to have work, not inWe ask to be enlightened, to have work, not in
order to usurp men’s authority, but in order to beorder to usurp men’s authority, but in order to be
better esteemed…better esteemed…

23. Charlotte
CordayGirondinGirondin
supporter whosupporter who
killed Jacobinkilled Jacobin
Jean-PaulJean-Paul
Marat on JulyMarat on July
13, 179313, 1793

24. The Murder
Corday sent a note to Marat earlierCorday sent a note to Marat earlier
saying, “saying, “I come from Caen. Your love forI come from Caen. Your love for
your country should make you curious toyour country should make you curious to
know about the plots that are takingknow about the plots that are taking
place there. I will await your answer.”place there. I will await your answer.”
This note did grab Marat’s attention andThis note did grab Marat’s attention and
though he was very sick, he let Corday inthough he was very sick, he let Corday in
to see himto see him
Corday told him the names of traitorsCorday told him the names of traitors
and then stabbed him in the chestand then stabbed him in the chest

25. The Aftermath
Just after Corday stabbed Marat, hisJust after Corday stabbed Marat, his
friend rushed into the bathroomfriend rushed into the bathroom
A man sitting downstairs waiting for anA man sitting downstairs waiting for an
article from Marat heard the commotionarticle from Marat heard the commotion
and assumed Marat had been attacked.and assumed Marat had been attacked.
When Corday got downstairs, this manWhen Corday got downstairs, this man
hit her over the head with a chairhit her over the head with a chair
Four days later Corday was tried andFour days later Corday was tried and
guillotinedguillotined

26. The Trial and
ExecutionIn a conversation between theIn a conversation between the
prosecutor (P) and Corday (C):prosecutor (P) and Corday (C):
P – Why did you kill Marat? WhoP – Why did you kill Marat? Who
inspired you with so much hatred forinspired you with so much hatred for
him?him?
C – I didn’t need the hatred of others.C – I didn’t need the hatred of others.
I had plenty of my own.I had plenty of my own.
P – But what did you hope to gain fromP – But what did you hope to gain from
killing him?killing him?
C – I killed one man to save aC – I killed one man to save a
thousand.thousand.
P – Do you think there was only oneP – Do you think there was only one
Marat?Marat?
C – No, but by killing him I haveC – No, but by killing him I have
warned the others. His death willwarned the others. His death will
frighten the rest of them.frighten the rest of them.
““Charlotte Corday en Prison”Charlotte Corday en Prison”
by Jacques-Louis Mullerby Jacques-Louis Muller

27. Charlotte
Corday
by Paul Jacques Aimé Baudry

28. Death of Marat
by David

29. Supporting Men
Emmanuel SiEmmanuel Sièyesèyes
The Marquis de CondorcetThe Marquis de Condorcet
(Marie Jean Antoine(Marie Jean Antoine
Nicolas Caritat)Nicolas Caritat)

30. Opposing Men
Jean-JacquesJean-Jacques
RousseauRousseau
Pierre-GaspardPierre-Gaspard
ChaumetteChaumette

31. Jean-Baptiste-André
Amar
(1755-1816)FromFrom The Report of Amar,The Report of Amar, October 21, 1793October 21, 1793
Can women exercise political rights and take an activeCan women exercise political rights and take an active
part in the affairs of government? Can theypart in the affairs of government? Can they
deliberate together in political associations or populardeliberate together in political associations or popular
societies?societies?
On these two questions the committee decidedOn these two questions the committee decided
in the negative.in the negative.
[It] demands a devotion without limits… Are women[It] demands a devotion without limits… Are women
capable of these cares and of the qualities thatcapable of these cares and of the qualities that
governance demands?governance demands?
In general, we can respond no. Very fewIn general, we can respond no. Very few
examples would contradict thisexamples would contradict this

32. From The Report of Amar,
Continued
Can women devote themselves to these usefulCan women devote themselves to these useful
and difficult functions?and difficult functions?
 No, because they would be obliged toNo, because they would be obliged to
sacrifice the more important cares to whichsacrifice the more important cares to which
nature calls them.nature calls them.
Each sex is called to a type of occupation whichEach sex is called to a type of occupation which
is fitting; its action is circumscribed within thisis fitting; its action is circumscribed within this
circle which it cannot break through, becausecircle which it cannot break through, because
nature which has set the limits for man commandsnature which has set the limits for man commands
imperiously and does not recognize any law.imperiously and does not recognize any law.

33. From The Report of Amar,
Continued II
In general, women are ill suited for elevatedIn general, women are ill suited for elevated
conceptions and serious meditations… would you wishconceptions and serious meditations… would you wish
for them to be seen coming to the bar, to thefor them to be seen coming to the bar, to the
tribune, to political assemblies like men, abandoningtribune, to political assemblies like men, abandoning
both reserve, the source of all virtues of their sex,both reserve, the source of all virtues of their sex,
and the care of their family?and the care of their family?
In general, women are ill suited for elevatedIn general, women are ill suited for elevated
conceptions and serious meditations… would you wishconceptions and serious meditations… would you wish
for them to be seen coming to the bar, to thefor them to be seen coming to the bar, to the
tribune, to political assemblies like men, abandoningtribune, to political assemblies like men, abandoning
both reserve, the source of all virtues of their sex,both reserve, the source of all virtues of their sex,
and the care of their family?and the care of their family?

34. From The Report of Amar,
Continued III
There is another respect in which associations ofThere is another respect in which associations of
women appear dangerous…women appear dangerous…
Their presence in popular societies wouldTheir presence in popular societies would
give therefore then an active part ingive therefore then an active part in
government to persons more exposed togovernment to persons more exposed to
error and to seduction. Let us add thaterror and to seduction. Let us add that
women are disposed by their organization towomen are disposed by their organization to
an excess excitement which would be deadlyan excess excitement which would be deadly
in public affairs and that the interests ofin public affairs and that the interests of
the state would soon be sacrificed to allthe state would soon be sacrificed to all
that the intensity of passion can produce inthat the intensity of passion can produce in
errors and disorder.errors and disorder.

35. Improvements for Women
Made During the
Revolution
Men and women were equally eligible toMen and women were equally eligible to
inherit propertyinherit property
Divorce legalized (so a woman could alsoDivorce legalized (so a woman could also
choose to end a marriage)choose to end a marriage)
In a divorce, women had a right to someIn a divorce, women had a right to some
of the common propertyof the common property
A system of education was created forA system of education was created for
both boys and girlsboth boys and girls