Context: In the middle of the revolution (1793), the Convention (official government) met to address a complaint concerning the impending dissolution of the Society of Revolutionary Republic Women. The Committee of General Security raised two questions (1) Can women exercise political rights and take an active part in affairs of government? (2) Can they deliberate together in political associations or popular societies? The Convention ultimately voted to outlaw "women's societies and popular clubs."
Author: This document has no author, it is simply an explanation for the decision made by the Convention.
Summary: This article focuses on the Committee's investigation of the following questions: (1) Can women exercise political rights and take an active part in
affairs of government? (2) Can they deliberate together in political
associations or popular societies? For number one, they came to the conclusion can not not exercise political rights because women do not have the moral or physical strength to do so. For the second question, they came to the conclusion that women cannot devote themselves to such time consuming things because they have to focus on their natural jobs. The Committee concluded with explaining that the differences between men and women is the reason that women can not become involved with politics. Women must remain loyal to their home and family life (their "natural" job), and should not "meddle in affairs of government."
Quotation: "What character is suitable for women? Morals and even nature have assigned functions to her. To begin education men, to prepare children's minds and hearts for public virtues, to direct them early in life towards good, to elevate their souls, to educate them in the political cult of liberty; such are the functions, after household cares...When they have fulfilled all of these obligations, they will have deserved well of the fatherland" (126).
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