What role did women play during the revolutionary years
Answers
(i) In order to discuss and voice their interests they started their own political clubs and newspapers.
(ii) About 60 women's clubs emerged in different French cities, the most famous being the Society of Revolutionary and Republic Women.
(iii) They wanted to enjoy the some political rights as men i.e., right to vote, to be elected to the Assembly and to hold political office.
(iv) Women's struggle for equal political rights during the revolutionary years inspired French women during the late 19th and 20th centuries. Finally in 1946, French women won the right to vote.
Women participated actively in the events that took place in France and brought about many changes in the society and polity of France. In Paris, Women walked out of their houses and left their traditional roles of being mother and housewives and made a significant contribution in the revolutionary politics. Following are the contribution given by women in the revolutionary years:
1. They actively participated in major events, for instance, the march to Versailles.
2. To strengthen their voice women founded various political clubs including the Society of Revolu-tionary and Republican Women.
3. They found their newspaper to spread the ideas of liberty.
4. Political activism was another role played by women, Olympe de Gouges can be taken as an example, who opposed the constitution and later drafted the declaration of rights for females.