Sunday, February 21, 2010

Rethink Your Actions!

Gouge,

I disapprove of your intentions to rewrite the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen. You well know the system of society. Women had never been recognized before, why start now? You must try to understand why women were not included in this document.

I request you to refrain from filing a response document to our original. We intend to publish it next week, and playing games with us is not advisable. Your actions will be punished, and I do not wish for any harm to come to you or your associates. Please consider my opinion carefully.

Robespierre

Hypocrisy and Women's Rights

Olympe Dear,

I too am appalled at the National Assemby's decision to publish the document. It startled me! They constantly speak of equality among estates, but not once do they awknoweldge women? This is hypocrisy, is it not? I don't understand their thinking on this matter. Of course you, my dear friend, will talk some sense into them! I have faith in you.
You speak for all women when you speak of equality, and for this you will be recognized for years to come.
I must begin setting up the salon for tonight's meeting, I hope to see you there!
Charlotte Jean Montesson

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen

Well, the National Assembly presented the new human rights document for all of France. I was, however, quite troubled to discover that not once did it mention women! I tried to reason with them, however they simply ignored me, and even claimed that, because I am not a man, I am not considered a citizen of France! How appalling!

In response I am writing The Declaration of The Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen, modeled after their "constitutional" document. I am rewriting each article and even expanding it to include all woman in our nation. Laws must be applied to both man and woman. Its disgusts me to think that they thought it was acceptable to assume that although woman would not be considered a citizen, we would be accountable to the government for our actions as would a man.

I will not rest until this has been resolved and we are all considered citizens.

Olympe de Gouge

The Life of a Political Activist

I was born into a Bourgeois family in 1748. My father worked with meat and my mother was the daughter of a cloth merchant. I married a man I did not love in 1765. His name was Louis Aubry. To explain, I wrote this in my novel (Mémoire de Madame de Valmont contre la famille de Flaucourt), "I was married to a man I did not love and who was neither rich nor well-born. I was sacrificed for no reason that could make up for the repugnance I felt for this man."

Louis died a year later, and left me with our son, with whom I moved to Paris. This is when I changed my name to Olympe de Gouges. Shortly thereafter, I started a relationship with a man named Jacques Biétrix de Rozières.

I currently attend many salons to talk about Enlightenment ideals, and even show some of the playwrights I have created. Here is where many of my closest friends and I chat.

Because I am so avid about spreading the ideal of rights for women, I am a part of the Cercle Social, which is a group intended to advocate women's rights nationwide. I became a member in 1791.

Well, I have a salon meeting at Charlotte-Jeanne Montesson's tonight, and I must start getting ready...


Olympe de Gouge