A true feminist

When somebody speaks around French revolution one matter that is important, although alone theoretical, is Declaration of rights of man and citizen, we must consider this document alone theoretical because very much abuse have made also during French revolution to political opposing and other questions that were very document of a secular order that then must be changed by middle class, and this happened because aristocracy was by now ended; in fact with revolution all was changed but we must consider that this change followed a course, a rational and logical course, this is historical course, and I mention a Italian writer, Giovan Battista Vico that said: “Order of ideas musts follow in conformity of order of thing”, in fact with Napoleon order in French was hardened; order was that one alone leads a country as monarchy has made for centuries, but now leader is a member of middle class, this is Napoleon. Regarding social order one member of French revolution, a woman was very original and combative, Olympe de Gouges, pseudonym of Marie Gouze(1748-1793), was a French writer and much active in political contest, so active that she written a Declaration of right of woman and citizen, she written this declaration at 1791, very revolutionary woman, and she was a true feminist, because she asked alone a principal today common, equal right between man and woman, it’s normal today, but at 1791 it was a revolution in revolution, because women were inferior and alone men could take part to policy, but with this declaration Olympe de Gouge declares that woman and man is physical different alone, she written on first article: “Woman free born and she has same rights of man.” Second article: “Aim of political association is alone keep the natural rights of woman and man. This is are freedom, property, security and opposition to oppression”. Third article: “The principle of sovereignty is in Nation, and this is union of woman and man… Article fourth: The liberty and justice are to give other that is their, so is natural right of woman that has alone border of tyranny of man. This border must be reformed by rational and natural rights.” Maximum expression of feminism of Olympe is sixth article where she written: “The law must be expression of general will. All citizen men and women must contribute personally or by their representative to former this institution. The law must be equal to all, men and women, with equal dignity, with public employee, with their ability, and above all without discrimination but alone to ability”. Intelligence of this concept, true feminism because asks alone respect and consideration is very notice by Olympe on seventh article: “Nobody woman is exception; she will be accused, arrested and imprisoned in conformity of law. Women obey as men to law.”  On tenth article, the rights of women are notice also in front of death: “The woman has right go up scaffold as tribune provided his think doesn’t disturb public order”. I end with this article because it seems prophecy, in fact Olympe de Gouges has guillotined at 1793 because she discorded with capital sentence to Louis XVI. She was very intelligent woman and feminist because she asked rights and brought forward very much demands that today are normal; she didn’t ask abstract demand but alone natural right, that at her time, 1791, was unnatural.

Alessandro Lusana