declaration of the rights of woman olympe de gouges

It will be of interest to students of the French Revolution, women's studies, and biography. This long-overdue biography pays her due homage. Olympe de Gouges rightly deserves the title of pioneer, prophet, and heroine. De Gouges called for the advent of a new woman, one who would relinquish the 'nocturnal administering' of men. Instead of considering her female colleagues as eternal victims, she understood that they were to some extent responsible for their misfortunes, and that if they united and devoted themselves to changing their image, they could become great. Unlike many who have captured posterity's attention, de Gouges had great sympathy but no indulgence for her sex. After boldly publishing her Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen in 1791, de Gouges was sent to the guillotine for having had the courage to mount the rostrum on behalf of women. This book is the first biography of this astonishing woman. The many claims and protests put forth by women at that time were suppressed, women's clubs were banned, and Olympe de Gouges, a leading contemporary advocate for women's rights, was silenced and has since remained an obscure figure. Women played a major part in the French Revolution of 1789, but have received very little recognition for their contributions.

Declaration of the rights of woman olympe de gouges