The feminism
in French

History of feminism

History of feminism in French
Feminism has been a debate for hundreds of years

Today, be feminism, it’s promoted the gender equality. It’s had as an objective abolish the gender inequality. There is now 54% feminism in France.

Feminism was born during French revolution. It allowed expression to the first feminist theory. This theory wants to give to women the same right that men. They even reveal figures of feminism with the leader : Olympe de Gouge

Image Olympe de Gouge
Portrait of Olympe de Gouge in 1788.

In 1869, the first feminism newspaper is created "Droit des Femmes " by Léon Richer, a man. At the start, it’s a great success. But this success will soon fade away. It will even disappear in 1891 when the creator will no longer be able to take care of his newspaper. Other newspapers are created at that time such as “la Fronde” which will present the feminism actions.

Journal Droit de la femme
Edition of the "Droits de la femme"

In 1909, The French Union for the women’s suffrage is created. It aims to create a feminism political party. But all these actions have not changed much. Feminism remains in the minority.


The First World War

When we talk about the Great War, we heard a stop to the expansion of feminism. It had developed well so far but this war has frozen the progress. Although the 1st World War changed women’s work. When man returned the front to get treatment. The nurses and the doctors have been in great demand, they were even over-charged. France has therefore trained more nurses.

Nurse 1st World War
Nurse during the
First World War

This has contributed to inequality of distribution of occupations between men and women. It’s partly because of this that today, we can see more women in medicine that man. While their husbands were at the front, women had to do the work of men. They were gradually replacing men in the fields or in the factories. This work was performed in deplorable conditions. Women were not recognized for their efforts. They were always very little paid.


The Second World War

Between these two wars, women did not have more places than before. But during the Second World War, women even went into battle. They played an essential role during this war. They represented 10 to 15% of the resistance in France. But they are less numerous than in other countries like Italy.

Women during World War II
Women in World
War II

During this war, some feminist figures have emerged such asLucie Aubrac. Native of Saône et Loire, Lucie has always made moves against the Nazis. The main, she will organize her husband's escape.

Image of Lucie Aubrac
Lucie Aubrac during the
Second World War

This war has done feminism some good with the right to vote which is given to women in 1944. But We can see again that after this war, there are only 46% of working women while men are 88%. This is still very unbalanced.


Main dates of feminism
in France :

Timeline on the dates of feminism

The Glorious Thirty (the years that followed) gradually led to the development of feminism with demonstrations, laws such as the right to contraception or the condemnation of sexual discrimination in hiring.


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Image Stéphanie Frappart

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