Analysis Of Olympe De Gouges Declaration Of The Rights...

As I was examining the potential documents to research, Olympe de Gouges’ â€Å"Declaration of the Rights of Woman† was immediately striking to me. Personally, I was familiar with the original document: â€Å"Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen.† Therefore, I was interested in learning more about de Gouges’ version. Also, this particular document was striking because of the time period it was written in. The French Revolution is a fascinating period to study because of the implementation of Enlightenment ideals, and then the collapse of a lot of those ideas with the Jacobins and even later with Napoleon Bonaparte. I was interested in learning more about an influential woman of the French Revolution. Specifically, how her works and opinions†¦show more content†¦Also, it often included spontaneous rioting and craziness which included many women in the popular insurrections. In 1791, the â€Å"Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizenâ⠂¬  echoed many of the ideals of the Enlightenment. This progressive document helped further the rights for many and pushed forward the agenda of equal rights; however, many women, including de Gouges, saw this document as portraying the failure of the French Revolution. The next phase, the Republican Revolution, clamped down and cut many of the progressive laws and ideas that were characterized by the Liberal Revolution. Women were banned from the political sphere; many who spoke out against those in charge were executed for their opposition. Included in those who were executed were Olympe de Gouges in 1793. Therefore, the rest of the French Revolution is not necessary to understand her as a historical figure. Nevertheless, it is important to possess a better understanding of Olympe de Gouges to comprehend the â€Å"Declaration of the Rights of Woman.† She was born into a lower middle-class family under the name Marie Gouze in 1748 in southwest France. As a child, she was under the impression that she was the illegitimate child to her father. This belief would later influence her and fuel her into being an advocate for illegitimate children. In 1765, de Gouges married a caterer from Paris named Louis Aubry. She claimedShow MoreRelatedThe Destruction Of The Monarchy During The French Revolution1523 Words   |  7 Pagesdestruction of the monarchy during the French Revolution symbolized the Enlightened opinion that people shared fundamental rights. Questions about what it truly meant to be a citizen, especially in respect to political responsibilities such as voting and holding offices, were passionately contemplated and defined. However, prejudices quickly created controversies ov er whom, exactly, these rights and privileges belonged to. Craftily referred to as â€Å"citizenesses†, women were one such deliberated group duringRead MoreElusive Women Rights As widely cited the French Revolution served as the greatest war of liberation3000 Words   |  12 PagesElusive Women Rights As widely cited the French Revolution served as the greatest war of liberation of the human race and decried as bloodthirsty lesson on the working of mob mentality. Women despite their extensive participation in the relatively legitimate and orderly legislative and political process, which characterized the first phase of the Revolution, as well as in the violence of the Terror were no better off in 1804 after the formulation of the Napoleonic Code. The question asked is plainRead MoreWomen s Rights On The Grounds Of Political, Social, And Economic Equality1988 Words   |  8 PagesFeminism; the advocacy of women s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men. The definition behind this popular and vastly spreading word has been twisted and manipulated to for the social standings of almost every society in existence. The truth behind the â€Å"Big Bad F-Word† is hidden and unknown to many people, gaining its spot as one of the most hated words in t he English language. Although many may deny the need for women’s rights movements, gender inequality has beenRead MoreCitizenship Is Defined By Merriam Webster1823 Words   |  8 Pagesunderstanding citizenship as an evolving term. With references from the French, an analysis of sovereignty, governmentality, and misconceptions over time, I will elaborate on the essential arguments surrounding the rights of a citizen and those who attempt to qualify. Thomas Hobbes, English philosopher and author of the Leviathan, began the semester with an introduction to European liberal thought, most notably, the rights of an individual and the natural equity of all men. Hobbes says that the naturalRead MoreThe Liberation of Paris Essay example2220 Words   |  9 Pagesa democratic form of government, that not only marked the end of the Vichy regime but also the end of the provisional government of Charles de Gaulle. Therefore it could be argued that the years of the Liberation lasted until the beginning of 1947, when the new Fourth Republic was finally put in place. It was after this period of Liberation that Charles de Gaulle set about creating a Resistance Myth that covered up the extensive collaboration that had taken place in France; later to be uncovered