The Rights of Women
Olympe de Gouges (1748–1793)
Declaration of the Rights of Woman, 1791
Olympe de Gouges was a French feminist and reformer in the waning years of the Enlightenment who articulated the rights of women with her Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen (1791). The law must be the same for all, male and female citizen, being equal in the eyes of the lax, must be equally admitted to all honours, positions, and public employment according to their capacity and without other distinctions besides those of their virtues and talents.
De Gouge describes marriage as an equal partnership in which two partners unite for the goals to start a family; she advocates sharing of wealth and its equal division in the case of divorce. She advocates laws protecting both men and women from violation of the contract. Forming a social contract and sharing equally in the activities of men, De Gouge argues, is “a foolproof way to elevate the soul of women”.
After arguing that all women are oppressed, whether married or not, she asserts that women have the power to free themselves by forming a social contract between man and woman.
Gouges sought freedom for women including the right to vote and to a higher education. This has importance in today’s society, because there is still a problem for women being not treated equally. Could you imagine how important it was for women through the 18th centuries? She created a future society with the same for all, male and female citizens, being equal in the eyes of the law. How would the structure of the society be without her improvements in freedom? Gouge fought until her death with rudeness. The success of the women’s rights movement is evident when we see females like Senator Hillary Clinton and many others running for and holding political offices.
Are the freedoms that female human rights activists fought so hard to obtain now being taken for granted?
//Anna
I think that she made a good job, she fought for the right thing and I think that she opened the eyes for thoose men who did not know how importent it is to a women to feel that she is the same value as a man, not juste what "the cat draged in". I think she changed the world and opened the eyes even for woman. good article ;)
Nice work Anna =)
I agree with you Unni, when you say that what Gouges did was important to open the eyes of many people =)
You asked if we take the freedom for women for granted and I don't think so. Of course has much happened since Gouges fought for women and we live in a more equal society today =) but in Sweden we have the feminist party which still fight for women's rights in society.
Very good article Anna! =)
Nice work Anna =)
I agree with you Unni, when you say that what Gouges did was important to open the eyes of many people =)
You asked if we take the freedom for women for granted and I don't think so. Of course has much happened since Gouges fought for women and we live in a more equal society today =) but in Sweden we have the feminist party which still fight for women's rights in society.
Very good article Anna! =)
Nice work Anna =)
I agree with you Unni, when you say that what Gouges did was important to open the eyes of many people =)
You asked if we take the freedom for women for granted and I don't think so. Of course has much happened since Gouges fought for women and we live in a more equal society today =) but in Sweden we have the feminist party which still fight for women's rights in society.
Very good article Anna! =)
As you said women still fight for their rights because in many countries, they cannot take women rights for granted. They do not have access to the education and information that would help them learn how to avoid HIV infection. In contrast to other countries humans here in sweden are treated equally for the most, in this case.
