•“Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen”
•Executed in 1793
•For criticizing the bloodshed of the revolution.
Olympe
de Gouges also lived in Paris during the French Revolution and also produced
a response to the Declaration of the Rights of Man. Her 1791 work, The
Rights of Women, criticized the leaders of the Revolution for continuing
to “oppress” women even though they had just been freed from oppression
themselves. The heart of The Rights of Women consisted of a
“Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen” that mimicked the
language of the Declaration. For example, while Article 1 of the original
Declaration stated that, “Men are born and remain free and equal in rights.
Social distinctions may be founded only upon the general good.” Article 1 of
de Gouges’ declaration says, “Woman is born free and lives equal to man in
her rights. Social distinctions can be based only on the common utility.”
De
Gouges also included a form for a “Social Contract Between Men and Women.”
Much more strident in tone than Wollstonecraft, de Gouges urged women to
“wake up” and “discover your rights.” She harshly criticized the Revolution,
asking, “Oh, women, women! When will you cease to be blind? What advantage
have you received from the Revolution? A more pronounced scorn, a more marked
disdain.” She also decried the bloodshed of the Revolution, which led many to
label her as a reactionary. In 1793, she was guillotined.
