Hip Draft:

Assess the impact of the French Revolution on the lives of women

The French Revolution as it suggests, revolutionised the rights and statuses of many
different people, from different classes. However did it have an impact on the lives of
women? The impact of the French Revolution on women can be determined by the changes
or lack of in Status and rights as these are key features of shaping equality. Prior to the
Revolution women were seen as very insignificant in comparison to men, and through the
Revolution they had the ability to change their somewhat bleak future by standing up for their
rights and gaining new freedoms. However after the revolution many of these rights
diminished and although they maintained their now somewhat strong status they were left
with only a few basic human rights. Thus we can gather that although the French Revolution
made advancements in womens status, it left their rights stagnant, so without both basic
measures of equality being impacted, the revolution only moderately impacted women.

Women prior to the French Revolution:

Topic sentence:
Prior to the French Revolution, also known as Ancien Reegime, women were seen as quite
inferior to men, they were seen as possessions rather than human beings, thus a lot of
women recognised that there was a need for some changes to occur in this male dominated
society.
-Typical Roles in society Domestic roles/ bringing up children, cooking cleaning, heavy
labour, ill paid. Prostitution.
-Lack of rights Controlled by the men in their lives Fathers then husbands, unable to vote,
not considered full citizens of France.
Source 1: Secondary, This paper was written for Katharine Hansons (Professor) Modern
World History class in the fall of 2011.
During the Ancien Rgime, the political and social system in France before the revolution
occurred, both single and married women had few rights. Until they were married, women
were controlled by their fathers and after marriage this control shifted to the husband.
Women had no power over their property or even over their own person. Economically, their
situation was also unfavourable. They were not paid well, and the law confined women to
domestic service, heavy labour, and ill-paid labour-intensive industries like the lace trade.
They did have a few small political rights; for example, women in religious orders and noble
women were allowed to send representatives to the Estates General.4 However, these rights
were insignificant compared to those of men. For the most part, people thought women
should stay at home and raise children, and that sexual equality was a bad idea. These
ideas were age old truths of Western Civilization and they were also more recently
influenced by the French Enlightenment philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who strongly
believed that women should not engage in politics.
Women were sick of living like this, even before the revolution Feminism movement
began evolving, women of intellect such as Mary Wollstonecraft began advocating for
womens rights through writing papers, reports and books.
Pushes for women to Attend school/ granted in some areas, right to vote/ dismissed,

Source 2: Primary: 1792, Mary Wollstonecraft, The first female Manifesto

"(there can be no society among unequals and a) state of equality for all mankind must exist
without any differences between sexes."

During the Revolution the role they played:

Topic Sentence:
In order for women to make any advances in status and rights, they had to prove themselves
as strong and dominant figures. During the French Revolution, this idea of women being
strong and outgoing, opposed to preconceived ideas, was really consolidated.
Due to
-Adaption to the absence of men While men were out fighting, women had to take over
most of the jobs = Leadership.
-They also had to defend while men were out fighting Strength, courage.
Source 1: Secondary: Report/ Group of Essays, commission of the European committees,
Head of womens information services
Women's tasks multiplied as a direct result of the Revolution, particularly as the absence of
their menfolk forced them to play an economic and social role. "They took care of the fields
and the harvests, trade and business," Marie-Sylvie Dupont-Bouchat wrote. At the same
time they safeguarded the ecclesiastic heritage that governed births, marriages and
burials they had to adapt to the worst situations while accomplishing their daily servitude.
-

Many women stepped up and actually fought, more importantly women fought
together Unity of the female sex, feminism, dominance.

Source 2: Image of the womens march to Versailles in

Portrays a lot of power and the uniting of women of all classes to work together to prove they
can have an impact on society, displaying a strong sense of feminism, women are valid in
society see source analysis for further info.

After The Revolution: Changes/ continuities:

Topic Sentence:
The French Revolution resulted in many good changes and steps forward for women and
the publics perception of them. However as well as many advances towards Women in
society. Women found themselves losing many of the ephemeral rights that they had
acquired during the Revolution. Thus there were still a lot of mixed responses and views
towards womens rights and behaviour at the time.
-

Status a lot of men now had more modern views of women seeing them as strong
and intelligent. Still a lot of debate towards their rights though

Source 1: Secondary: Article, 1992, The Concord Review

The status of women did undergo significant changes in the years between 1789 and 804,
and at one point (late 1792- early 1793) they had obtained the legal right to marry without

parental consent, initiate divorce, name the father of an illegitimate child and secure
monetary compensation for the seduction and own property. Primogeniture was abolished
along with the nobility, and equality of succession laws insured that female heirs would be
allowed to inherit.
-

Although women developed more of a status in society, in the case of Womens

rights, the French Revolution was actually more of a setback on womens rights than
an advancement.

They did not achieve full citizenship and the right to vote until the end of World War II,
long after the other western democracies.

Source 2: Primary: Speech, Cambaceres, the First Consul state (Need to check, not sure if
accurate.)
"Will you not exact a promise of obedience from women? ... We need a formula for the
mayor considered in his capacity as registrar that contains the womans promise of
obedience and faithfulness. She must know that, in leaving the guardianship of her family,
she comes under the guardianship of her husband. Obedience.' That word is good for Paris,
especially where women believe they have the right to do what they want. Theyre interested
only in pleasure and clothes. If we did not grow old, I would not want any women.'" Later he
added, "It is women who give men; children; they thus belong to men just as the fruit tree
belongs to the gardener."
Overall impact/ Conclusion: (Might Splitget second opinion)
-Restate question and arguments.
-Concluding sentence Essentially answers question.