#1 - Les droits de la femme et de la citoyenne - Virago - Olympe de Gouges
Olympe de Gouges: A Pioneer of Feminism and Social Reform
Early Life and Marriage
- Olympe de Gouges was born in 1748 in Montauban and married Louis-Yves Aubry at the age of seventeen, who was significantly older and uncultured.
- Her husband died a year later due to a flood, leaving her as a widow.
Widowhood and Freedom
- De Gouges viewed marriage as "the tomb of trust and love," which influenced her decision not to remarry.
- French laws restricted women writers from publishing without their husbands' consent, leading her to embrace widowhood as a form of freedom that allowed her to publish.
Literary Contributions
- She produced an extensive body of work including plays, novels, political pamphlets, and letters; hypothetically posting three videos daily on YouTube if she were alive today.
- Gained recognition for advocating for black people's rights and writing political theater against slavery.
Advocacy for Women's Rights
- Published the "Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen," asserting women's rights alongside men’s rights.
- Advocated for divorce rights during the Revolution, marking it as one significant advancement for women during this period.
Social Reforms and Legacy
- Proposed various social reforms such as maternity wards, refuges for the poor, and national workshops for the unemployed.
- Critiqued societal views on gender post-Revolution; noted that while female status changed from despicable to respectable, it also became despised.
Downfall During the Revolution
- On April 6, 1793, her career ended when she publicly discussed sending deputies to prison; she was imprisoned without legal representation.