During the late 1700s, Europe was in a troubling circumstance to the point that people had to take matters into their own hands. The people were resented of how they were treated due to the detrimental laws that were imposed by the monarchs. During this time, France had wreaked havoc the standard of living under a sovereign. The French began to uprise against the monarchs and abolished the feudal hierarchical system. After abolishing a system that was instilled for centuries, the French National Assembly created the The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. The declaration stated the rights that all men had freedom and eliminated all privileges that were instilled based on birth; to create statutes that are to be best for the people rather than following tradition (pg. 6).  However, this declaration did not incorporate women, having Olympe De Gouges send a message to men and their misogynistic mentality.

Olympe De Gouges was a radical feminist who advocated for those who did not have a voice. She fought for the abolition of slavery, the rights of orphans and the unwed mothers (Pg. 23). De Gouges rejected the The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, she then revised the declaration and called it The Rights of Women. She expressed the equality of the sexes and overcoming the system of oppression. Olympe De Gouges believed that women had the right to be respected by their peers. Women were belittled and inferior to men and did not have any liberty. She argued that women had the right to express themselves in public, such as saying who is the father of their children. She also mentions that no one is ever harmed from what a man says in a speech, then women should have the right to give a speech as well (Pg.26). Laws are to be abided by both men and women to equally benefit them and will be fairly prosecuted if they fail to comply. De Gouges shows that women have overcome hardships and are to be superior than what they are perceived. She encouraged women to fight for the cause because they have natural rights which are not instilled by “fanaticism” and “superstition” as what was once believed. Although her progressive ideas were far too advanced during her time, she became an important figure in the feminist movement which influenced others to obtain equality between the sexes.

Karina Delgado