Benefits Of Women In The French Revolution

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To what extent did women benefit from the French Revolution? During the 18th century women were controlled by their husbands and seen as property. There was a gender division between men and women; men were seen as the stronger sex, with greater intelligence, courage, and determination. While women, were seen to be governed by their emotions, thus referred to as the weaker sex (2). A women's role in 18th century France, included finding a husband, reproducing, maintaining a household, and catering to her husband's needs. The French Revolution, (1789- 1799), changed leadership from a monarchy ruled by King Louis XVI to a republic ruled by the people ( Google Dictionary). The French Revolution was a reaction to the burden of taxes (159). …show more content…
After the French Revolution Napoleon came into power and crowned himself Emperor. Education was on Napoleon's list of priorities (5), he believed in a system of merits but in order to do so he needed a widespread of education. Napoleon started out by reestablishing religious elementary schools, which some were available for girls (5). He felt that education was important for girls, but they were not allowed to have the same education that boys were given. Napoleon was criticized for his attitude towards women, but was only reflecting the trend in France. Women were always viewed biologically different from men, and were designed to play domestic roles. Since women were the ones who took care of the children at home, many started to see that women needed education to teach their children. Since, Napoleon believed in education he gave girls access to education which was suitable to them. Education for girls had emerged (1). Girls lycee (high school) was created, but girls were still not taught on the same level as males. Girls lycee thought basic numbers, writing and the principal of their language, history, geography, and physics. Girl's lycee was a huge success for girl's because of that girls made impressive gains across Europe in the 19th century. The literacy rate in France improved from 60% to 95% including both men and women (1). Girls had finally gained access to education, which was the start to today's gender equal …show more content…
Just before the French Revolution(1789) the right to vote was only restricted to the representatives of the three estates, the clergy, the nobility, and the third estate. Between 1789 and 1791 voting was done by indirect census suffrage ( 1). Male suffrage was granted on August 11, 1792, but women were not entitled to vote because they did not have proper jobs. Women were regarded as passive citizens and not productive citizens even though they were the ones who marched on Versailles on October 5th and 6th , 1789 to ask King Louis XVI for bread, after a poor harvest and rise of prices of bread (2 ). WW1 came and women still did not have the right to vote even though France lost 10% of the male population. When men left for war, it was the women who took over the farm, took up post in the munitions industry, which was dangerous work, and majority of women did heavy work, including shipbuilding and furnace stoking. It wasn't until WW11 that women were finally recognized for their contribution to the war by working in factories and supporting the troops ( 3). General De Gaulle president of France's provincial government recognized their value and contribution to the nation, the right to vote was a major victory for 20th century women (3). Women got the chance to vote for the first time for the municipal elections on April 29, 1945, and for the second time for the presidential elections on October 21, 1945. The

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