Conclusion and Historical Impact
The conclusion of Gouges' text emphasizes its significance in awakening public consciousness and contributing to the uprising of women. Gouges directly addresses women, urging them to fight for their rights and convincing them of the benefits of gender equality.
Highlight: Gouges stresses the necessity of building a world where both men and women participate equally, rejecting the notion of male superiority.
The text argues that women should not submit to the customs that favor men as the "superior sex." It's a call to action for women to assert their rights and demand equal treatment in society.
Historically, women did gain some rights during the French Revolution, such as the right to divorce. However, the revolutionaries never granted them the right to vote, which French women would only obtain after World War II 1939−1945.
Vocabulary: Ancien Régime refers to the political and social system in France before the French Revolution.
Ironically, France, often called the "country of human rights," was one of the last European countries to grant women full rights. This fact underscores the long-lasting impact of the patriarchal systems that Gouges fought against and the continued relevance of her work in the struggle for gender equality.
Example: The delay in granting women the right to vote in France notuntilafterWorldWarII illustrates the persistent resistance to gender equality, even in a country known for its revolutionary ideals.
Olympe de Gouges' "Déclaration des droits de la femme et de la citoyenne" remains a crucial document in the history of feminism and human rights, laying the groundwork for future generations of activists and thinkers in the ongoing fight for gender equality.
