The reading I chose was The Rights of Woman by Olympe de Gouges. This text was published 1791 after the French Revolution. It explicitly revises the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. This text claims that the logic of the French Revolution which is its demands for freedom and equality and the overthrow of an old system of oppression must be also extended to women.

The author of this text is Olympe de Gouges she was French playwright and political activist whose feminist and abolitionist writings reached a large audience. As political tension rose in France she became more politically engaged. She became an outspoken advocate for improving conditions for slaves in the colonies. She is best known as a feminist demanding that French women be given the same rights as French men.

The reason she wrote the text was because she was alarmed that the constitution, which was to promote suffrage did not address nor even considered women’s suffrage. It also did not address key issues such as legal equality in marriage, the right of women to divorce her spouse if she was abused by him, or a woman’s right to property and custody of the children. So she created this text that was to be in her opinion the missing part of the Constitution of 1791. This would allow women to be given the rights they deserve. In her postscript, Gouges exhorts women to wake up and discover that they have these rights. She assures them that reason is on their side. Gouges asks, “What are the benefits that you have reaped from the revolution?” She states that the answer is nothing, except to be marked with yet more disdain. She exclaims that women should no longer tolerate this, they should step up, take action, and demand the equal rights they deserve. Gouges calls the notion that women are lesser beings an outdated concept. In this, she shows strongly her Enlightenment perspective—to break from old, illogical traditions that are now archaic. She asserts that to revoke women’s right to partake in political life is also outdated.

In my opinion this text was stronger than weaker. Her argument is an example of of a strong women standing up for what she believes in and not hiding behind the shadows like many did. She was a rebellious fighter for women equality and a role model to many women. It was very successful in conveying its message because as we can see today progress has been made. Women now have the same rights as men. They have the right to vote, speech etc. Even though she was executed because of her beliefs her dreams did come true. Through the long run and fight women were given their place and now have the same voice as men. We are no lesser than them. Even though there is still some gender inequality the situation is much better than when the period the text was written. Even though more can be done.