Women and revolutions sample essay

For some reason over the centuries of human history the majority of even modern societies have accepted the patriarchic system of values and distribution of powers. For a very long period of time this fact was not given much attention. For everyone (or for the majority) the situation was quite reasonable and acceptable. For that there were quite many explanations. Women did not fight as well as men did, so they could not conquer new land, which was important at that time. They were not too good in hunting and cruelty either. That was man’s job. At the same moment men did not have time to be occupied with the households and upbringing children, so that was women’s main job. After a certain amount of time men obviously decided that since women are generally physically weaker, they should be on the lower positions on the society. Moreover the almost every existing religion was putting a man on a level higher than a women, that was the other reason for men to feel their superiority, and for women to be quiet – because that is God’s will. After all at those times it was more or less reasonable.

Though, the time was passing by, the technologies were improving. Hard work now could be managed by women not much worse then by men. Over that time the superior status given to a man in the society grew even higher and the sense of justice was more and more often appealing to people (usually to women, but there were quite many men as well) that the existing attitude toward women is unjust.

The peak of the “fight for the rights” and equal place in the society with the men fell on the 19th century. Even though it might seem that the 20th was more important. The supporters of that idea do not take into consideration that during the 20th century the idea was already there: defined, clear, not persecuted. Why do I suggest that 19th century was the main one in the women’s movements? There were quite many factors that influenced it. From my point of view, revolutions that started often happening in 18th century gave a serious push toward it.

Two major revolutions that happened during that century, American and French, both were suggesting the ideas of liberty and justice. Though we know very well that after the American Revolution that proclaimed liberty and justice for all almost two hundred years had to pass until women got the right to vote. During the French Revolution women also were denied the political rights. At that time the view that women should be good mothers, stay at home and cook dinner for their husbands was so strong, that it seemed impossible to change.

Pamphlets about the women’s right, such as for example famous Declaration of the Rights of Women by Olympe de Gouges, did not receive any approval. She was one of the first who questioned the authority of the men over the women. In her work mentioned above she expressed idea that gender difference has nothing to do with the intellect and ability to reason. Unfortunately, that idea for her was at a cost of life. She was arrested and executed on the guillotine in 1793.

Women like Olympe de Gouges who had suffered for the ideas of liberty for themselves and their works certainly were not left without attention by other representatives of a female gender. A lot of women, who under other circumstances would not even think that there is something wrong with the existing system of values started changing their attitudes toward it. They stared realizing that it is unfair to treat women as a lower class just due to gender. Women participated in revolutions equally with the men, but what change did revolution give them? Outstanding women, whose names we do not even know worked as spies during French and American Revolutions. They worked also as nurses and cooks. It is a big question how would the results of revolutions turn out without them. During the 19th century there were many movements organized in the name of emancipation. Women started demanding such basic rights as the right to vote, to receive quality education, which was partially available only for women from rich families. But even they did not receive it as full as their male contemporaries did.

The movement later on became more successful. After a while persecutions for it stopped, but the results of the struggle were not too inspiring during the 19th century. Some real achievements occurred only in the beginning of the 20th. Though, the main accomplishment that was made during the 19th century, from my point of view, was that the problem of discrimination was now defined and the goals were set.
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