Women Flashcards
Key mass Parisian movements
Storming of the Bastille 14 July 1789
October Days (5th) 1789
Champ de Mars petition (1792)
October Days
5th, 1789. Depicted as mad murderors, and class distinctions in prints. Demanded bread and sanctioning of decrees (Declaration and August decrees). Invaded National Assembly.
1795
Germinal-prairial uprisings against the Thermidorean Convention: resulted in women being ordered to remain in their homes and groups of 5+ to be dispersed by force if necessary. Had demanded bread and return to 1793 constitution. Failed bc. No pop. Socs.
Germinal-prairial uprisings:
1795, S-C’s movement. Against Thermidorian convention bc of abandonment of controlled economy resulted in soaring prices and inflation. Stimulated by a pamphlet. Females initiated food riots, went to Tuileries and made demands but insufficient leadership meant they were expelled. Resulted in execution of 12 Deputies and end of S-c movement.
Sieyès’ “What is the Third Estate?”
Excludes women (alongside poor men/beggars) because they are likely to be influenced by their masters. “…political liberty…has it’s limits, just as civil liberty has…”
Condorcet
Girondin; consistently supported women’s rights via improved education and then suffrage. No taxation without representation! Female property qualifications.
Society of Revolutionary Republican Women
Spring 1789; expanded previous salons. Demanded the right to be armed and be active citizens.
Pamphlets/publications
Feminist activity. Some argued that just as the third estate couldn’t be represented by nobles, women couldn’t be represented by men.
Divorce
First made legal 1792. (92-03: 1 divorce for every 4 marriages). Could be on the grounds of: mutual consent, insanity, immorality, indiv assertion of incompatibility. Women’s personal property retained (unless immoral), children equally split.
Active/passive citizens
1789: 25+, property qualifications. Couldn’t bear arms if passive, or join national guard.
Rights?
Equal inheritance laws, majority aged 21, 1782: fathers could no longer object to marriages after majority age.
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
By Lafayette, male form ‘citoyen’ ie. Inherently gendered.
1793
Women’s clubs and pop socs outlawed. Some still attended male clubs (mainly upper classes)
Amar
Report 1793: women couldn’t emotionally cope with political responsibilities, and it would detract from their natural occupations anyway. Convention voted to exclude women from it’s meetings.
Economic roles?
First to lose jobs in industry. Had strong domestic roles and close knit communities in Paris based on child care and news/devotion. Increase in manufacturing and centrality of economy meant more travelling to work: thus faster spread of news.
Mme Roland
Gironde. Accepted ‘natural’ division of labour, influence over her husband gave her vast power. Was executed 1793
Olympe de Gouges
Declaration of the Rights of Women and Citizen (1791). Reactions: humour and disregard, her claims were largely dismissed. Same rights but different needs. All differences apart from those of reproduction: man made.
Marie Antionette
Denounce for her sexual behaviour (rumours of lesbianism with Princesse De Lamballe). Had some influence over the King (appointment of Brienne and Necker) but was hate by the public (exacerbated by the Diamond Necklace Episode (1780’s)
Catherine of Russia
Eg. Of massively famous ruler that was subject to scandal and rumour in her own court.
Maricourt
Had a salon and led women’s discussion groups. Was institutionalised and accused of radicalism repeatedly in the press.
Colomb
Owner of the printshop of the Ami du Peuples. Used rights to defend her business.
Leon
Demanded women’s rights to bear arms for defence of Paris in 1792. Was applauded by the Parisian mayor and Commune but idea rejected
Timm and Sandborn
Sexual rhetoric an ‘insurmountable barrier’ for women activists.
Joan Landes
Images of the period depict women as ‘self authorised an self authorising individuals, acting on behalf of their own interests’ and those of the nation as well. Also class division in women’s actions.
