Women in the French Revolution

About this course

The course traces women’s position from pre-revolutionary France through the Revolution’s early hopes, legal changes and eventual backlash. It considers debates about gender, citizenship and rights, women’s activism, the closure of women’s clubs, executions and ideological repression. Teaching combines interactive lectures with class discussion and case studies of figures including Marie Antoinette, Olympe de Gouges, Manon Roland, Charlotte Corday and Thérèse Tallien. Participants will also examine primary sources and revolutionary discourse to consider how women were portrayed and what the period reveals about the limits of Enlightenment and revolutionary ideals.

What you'll learn

• Explain how the Revolution expanded and restricted opportunities for women
• Assess the political significance of selected women involved in revolutionary events
• Analyse contradictions in Enlightenment and revolutionary ideas about gender and citizenship
• Interpret primary sources and contemporary discourse concerning women
• Evaluate the Revolution’s legacy in the history of women’s rights

Is this course right for you?

The course is intended for newcomers to the subject as well as learners with some background knowledge. It involves interactive lectures, group and class discussion, and engagement with shared resources. A good grasp of English is needed, alongside respectful participation in discussions of potentially sensitive topics.

• Suitable for learners with no previous background in this subject
• Requires participation in group and class discussions
• Some topics may require sensitive and respectful consideration

Before you go

• The provider states that there are no additional costs and nothing needs to be brought.