Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen Published

• The Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen was published.
• The document was written by Olympe de Gouges.
• The declaration aimed to address the inequality faced by women during the French Revolution.

On 5 September 1791, Olympe de Gouges (a French playwright and political activist), published the "Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen" (Déclaration des droits de la femme et de la citoyenne). This document was a response to the "Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen", which was adopted by the National Constituent Assembly on 26 August 1789. By highlighting the gender-specific exclusions, de Gouges aimed to expose the limitations within the revolutionary principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity.

The "Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen" consisted of 17 articles that paralleled the original declaration but explicitly incorporated women. It asserted women's natural, inalienable, and sacred rights, emphasizing equality in respect to men. For instance, Article I stated: "Woman is born free and remains equal to man in rights." De Gouges used this format to underscore the necessity of including women in the new societal framework that the French Revolution was striving to establish.

De Gouges advocated for a range of rights for women, including the right to vote, the right to participate in public office, and equality in marriage. Article VII called for the same judicial rights for women as for men, addressing the need for fair legal treatment. Similarly, Article X promoted the freedom of speech, encouraging women to freely express their opinions. The declaration was a pioneering document in the history of feminism, challenging the predominant views of women’s roles at the time.

Economic and property rights were also addressed. De Gouges asserted that both women and men should be able to own property and retain control over personal wealth. This was particularly significant during an era when women’s financial autonomy was severely restricted. She advocated for women's rights to inheritance and the possession of all assets acquired through marriage or personal efforts.

Although the "Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen" received limited attention at the time, it was a bold statement against the backdrop of the French Revolution. Its publication highlighted the contradictions within the revolutionary rhetoric and questioned the extent to which the principles of liberty and equality were being applied. De Gouges' efforts reflected the broader aspirations for social and political reforms that would encompass all citizens, regardless of gender.

• The Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen was published on 5 September 1791 by Olympe de Gouges, a passionate advocate for gender equality during the revolution.
• Olympe de Gouges's declaration was a direct response to the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (26 August 1789), which did not include women, highlighting the glaring gender inequality of the time.
• In her declaration, Gouges famously stated that 'woman is born free and her rights are the same as those of man'; this bold assertion placed women’s rights at the forefront of revolutionary discourse.
• Gouges used the platform of theatre to spread her ideas, writing plays that criticized the suppression of women's rights, showing how creative expression was intertwined with political activism during the revolution.
• Unlike her male contemporaries, Olympe de Gouges proposed specific measures for women's rights, such as equal access to divorce, property rights, and education, showcasing her progressive vision for society's future.