The Rights of Woman (1791) was written by Olympe De Gourges ( birth name was Marie Gouzes) when the French Revolution failed to give men and women equal rights. This declaration was intended to revise the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizens. Her declaration is to remove gender equality which existed in a very unjust world she lived in. Why can women be treated which such abuse or extreme punishments but they are not permitted to speak publicly. In the end, she was executed during the Reign of Terror by going against the law in 1793.

The author is Olympe De Gourges ( birth name given as Marie Gouzes). Olympe wanted to promote the rights of women as equal to men. After the French revolutions, there was a declaration of the rights for men only. From this, Olympe felt there weren’t any benefits for the women after the French Revolution. Matter fact, it was so unjust that she had to lay a foundation of rights for women that she had to fight for against the government which eventually caused her to be executed.

The main argument is unequal gender equality. Olympe lived in a gender and social stratified society. Women don’t have access to equality due to their gender; such rights for example, speech, liberty, prosperity, security, and etc. Besides having equal gender rights, she stated that unmarried women should be free to reveal the father of their children. Also, she mentioned widowed women and her children should have a fair share of wealth from their husband.

What is strong about this is that she is one of the early females to stand up for women rights. This piece she wrote which costed her her life was remembered and mentioned in today’s books because it was a groundwork set for women who she felt deserved equality and freedom of speech which women are born to have. What is weak  and very unfortunate was the fact that she was executed because she fought for what she felt was right. Where was unity in this? Did all women gathered to stand up for their rights and unite to form a group to go against government? If no one stands up for their rights, there will be no major force for the government to change the laws. Were their guidelines given to women from Olympe De Gourges to do so? The standards and ideas of Olympe was far to much to be accepted during that time.

Yes, it is successful in conveying her messages to women and citizens. She clearly wrote what was unjust to women and clearly stated 17 articles of what I consider to be equal and fair rights between men and women. After all, she was the early females who went against government to fought for her own rights as well as for other women. This was her passion until death by execution.

Looking back from now, there is improvement in woman’s rights. However, not perfect, but there is good progress. Not talking about the world but in United States, we still live in a gender and social stratified society. Still, men and women don’t have access to equality  due to their gender, social position, and wealth. But back to the topic on gender, now a days, there is still a wage gap between men and women. We are still in a society filled with competition but comparing to the times when Olympe was alive, women have far more rights than back then. Women can be governments, have the right to vote, have arguments, and have a share of wealth from their husband after divorced. Also, we have minimum wage which during her time didn’t have.