This stark comparison argues for equal political rights, stating that if women face the ultimate punishment, they must also have the right to speak publicly and influence law. It's a demand for symmetrical justice and participation.
Quote by Olympe de Gouges: “If woman has the right to mount the scaffold, she must equally have the right to mount the Rostrum.”
If woman has the right to mount the scaffold, she must equally have the right to mount the Rostrum.
Insight
Historical Context
Published in her 'Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen,' this quote was a powerful argument during the French Revolution. It exposed the hypocrisy of a system that would punish women but deny them a voice in public affairs.
About the Author
French political activist and playwright who wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen in 1791, directly challenging the exclusion of women from the rights proclaimed by the French Revolution. She was guillotined in 1793 for her political writings.
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