We Want Rights Essay

Submitted By stevenm007
Words: 1611
Pages: 7
Open Document
We want rights: The Feminism in French Revolution

Linyan (Steven) Ma

Deanne Schultz History 222 March 31, 2014 The French Revolution was a period of class conflict which dramatically altered the political and social roles of France. It brought with many sweeping changes in the realm of human rights both to France and the world. Throughout the revolution, French citizens began to fight for enhancing political and human rights. Feminism was the indispensable movement in it.Women had many roles such as their political involvement and contributions to the ideologies during the revolution period. However, compared with all their contributions, women were still victimized by the changes that occurred. Women could not have rights to publish their opinions in politics, even at home. Fortunately, the ideas of Enlightenment and the French Revolution meant that women could began to fight for their rights through clubs and participating in the revolution. Why did women want to have the same rights as men? How did the revolution affect the ideology of the Feminism? This essay will analyze Feminism in the French Revolution from women’s position, their contribution in the revolution, and how they fought for their rights. Women did not have rights before the French Revolution. The book “Rebel daughters: Women and the french revolution” by Melzer, Sara E., Leslie W. Rabine, and MyiLibrary introduced women’s disadvantage position. They had practically no civil and property rights at all. Therefore to be women’s treatment was completely terrible at that time. Firstly, women did not have any civil rights. In fact, women were almost followed by men’s perceived. Women in France, whatever single or married, were both had few rights in law. They were perceived not to control their thinking or make decisions on their own: “a single woman remained under her father's authority until she married; marriage transferred her to her husband's rule. Once married, she generally had no control over her person or her property”1 . The male citizen’s destiny in France involved service to their motherland like David Horatii, who is “the most reproduced image of fraternal revolutionary Zeitgeist, [who] was prepared to lay down his life in defence of republican values”2. However, women did not have the same rights as men. Women’s “only task was to produce and nurture citizens who would count themselves honoured to die for the Republic of Virtue”3. Women did not have political rights as well. Males believed “women were not political animals. Nature locked them in the private sphere”4. The career rights of women lacked protections. Women could not choose their career and they were only allowed to work for few businesses. There were a lot of concerns about “men entering traditional female professions such as seamstresses or embroiders”5. Although women were a vulnerable group in France, they demonstrated vast amounts of political participation through shared ideas and beliefs during the French Revolution. Women tried to participate in politics and revolution when they finished the housework. They were politically active throughout the French revolution, and were part of key events that shaped the outcome of the Revolution. They were responsible for the safety and care of their families, which at the time was not an easy task. For example, all French citizens conquered the Bastille and claimed triumph of liberty over despotism on July 14th, 1789. There were hundreds of women who participated in daily marches, concerned about the king's failure to improve the Declaration of Rights. The famine was worsening and bread prices were high let women had to march to Versailles in October 1789, where they obtained a written document sealed by the king promising provisions: “according to [women’s]
Show More

Related Documents: We Want Rights Essay

Declaration Of Independence Compare And Contrast Essay

was that they wanted equal right for everyone. They wanted to be able to be free, but not to free as to where they would be something wrong. They wanted to be fair instead of other people having much better respect. The other one was that they are absolutely violent and have made sacrifices. But also they are loyal in a way of helping one another as well as wanting to help each and one of them. Both of the stories tell you that they care about one another and also want to help as much as they can…

Words 640 - Pages 3

Fundamental Freedoms essay Ethics

Weaving The World- Student Book A. This means that everyone has the right to their own thoughts, religious beliefs, the right to have your own opinion. Everyone has freedom of speech so everyone can say what they want. Everyone has the right to hold meetings about whatever topic they want and not get arrested or in trouble with the law and the government. The fundamental freedoms were established in Canada during the 1960’s . We need fundamental freedoms in Canada and all over the world really because theses freedoms…

Words 567 - Pages 3

Freedom Definition

There are many different ideas of freedom. I believe that freedom is the right to think and feel by oneself. Freedom can also be described as liberty. If everybody could do whatever they want whenever they want the world would be controlled by a bunch of crazy people. There are many things that constitute freedom, here are a few of them. One thing that is involved in freedom is having a common purpose. Everybody needs to be on the same page wanting the same things. President Franklin D. Roosevelt…

Words 796 - Pages 4

Definition Essay: Are We Really Free?

Americans pride themselves on living in the “land of the free.” But what does freedom really mean? And to what extent are we really free? Freedom could be defined differently depending on an individual’s culture, country, and religion. Therefore, the definition of freedom might not be as clear as someone might think it is. Many people would think of freedom as an essential right that every human being has. Freedom could be defined as to be allowed to act according to a person’s own will. It can also…

Words 1004 - Pages 5

Personal Narrative: My Political System Ideology

don’t want my gun rights getting taken from me and anyone else, because that would mean no more hunting and that’s what some people like to do for fun is to hunt. Then another thing is the whole animal rights thing like how they shouldn't have to be in a fenced in area or on a chain. I personally, think they, should be in a fenced in area or a chain because if they weren't they would get run over or you could lose them easily. I will be talking about why I picked less immigration, gun rights, build…

Words 588 - Pages 3

Doctor-Assisted Suicide

our lives, we look for ways to control our own life. We want to control our own lives because we want to feel like we have some sort of power when it comes to living our own lives. People in this world want to take control of the most important events that occur during their lifetimes. Saying this, one of the most important events people want to control is their own death. Almost everyone wants to die a way they feel is right. In order to die a way that feels right to the person, they want to die whenever…

Words 1040 - Pages 5

The Success And Failure Of The Civil Rights Movement

The Civil Rights Movement affected american society from 1954- 1970 pretty dramatically. During these times a lot went down in the society. Big riots and angry mobs broke out in 1955 at Central High School due to nine african americans enrolling. Arkansas governor Orval Faubus surrounded and threatened the students. Due to this, President Dwight Eisenhower ordered the national guard to protect them. Also around this time, Rosa Parks was arrested for resisting to move to the back of the bus. This…

Words 505 - Pages 3

Standing Out For Other People's Rights

out for other people rights because they are also going to affect them in some way. In my opinion also by standing out for other people rights it depends by what could affect in our society and how could it get better. Is very important to think why is it important to stand out for other people rights?Each person have different opinion on the different right each people deserves. I also think that it's not fair that the government has the right to change and take out the right for the people who actually…

Words 503 - Pages 3

Does America Promote Individualism

Does America promote individualism or collectivism? America is not an Anthem society because in schools they teach kids to be themselves, we have human rights that promote individualism, we go to college for individual benefits, and we buy things for our own individual benefits. We as Americans have put individualism into our laws and children's minds. Because of this a lot of Americans are selfish, self centered, and don't care about what is happening our world. But in the book Anthem they drilled…

Words 422 - Pages 2

Freedom: Human Rights and Freedom Essay

Freedom can define as many other different definitions. Are we actually living in a society where freedom actually exists to the full extent? Most times we are limited to what freedom is actually are. To me freedom is the right to live how you want, regardless of the government; and I believe the government plays a big role as to how we are made to live rather than how we want to live. Freedom in America is an absolute right? We are born to become free. Freedom is defined from different…

Words 729 - Pages 3