France and the rest of Europe experienced significant changes in the age of the French Revolution in the 18th century. The assertion stems from the fact that it marked a dawn of new liberal ideas, which is evident in “ The Declaration of the Rights of Man, 1789.” This 1789 document emphasized universal rights and citizenship. Similar sentiments are evident in “Olympe de Gouges’ Declaration of the Rights of Women, a 1791” document that also agitates for rights, especially women’s rights, and challenges gender norms. However, the two papers provide diverse perspectives on rights, although they emanate from revolutionary fervor. Therefore, this analytical paper analyzes and compares the two historical documents to illustrate the unique perspectives about “rights.”
The writers of the Declaration document expected to establish individual liberties and a legal and constitutional framework that challenged the existing power structure. For example, the document points out that ” Men are born and remain free and equal in rights,” a declaration that calls for individual liberties. Thus, this document’s idea of “rights” is inclined towards universal rights enshrined for every human being. For example, the document spells out rights such as individual liberty, security, property, and freedom from oppressive regimes. The Assembly’s view about the status of personal property is that it is an inviolable and sacred right. The Assembly thus argues that no one should be denied such a right except when it is legally determined to deny it. However, the document omits women’s rights, as emphasized in Olympe de Gouges’ Declaration of the Rights of Women document. The idea of rights in the Declaration of the Rights document generally emphasizes individual freedom and citizenship as underscored within a constitutional framework. The principle of sovereignty in the Declaration document resides solely in the nation.. Thus, the document suggests that all authority and the idea of “rights” should be exercised as it proceeds directly from the nation.
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In contrast, Olympe de Gouges’ Declaration of the Rights of Women focuses on challenging some of the inferiority perceptions of women evident in the Declaration of the Rights of Man document. De Gouges argues for the rights of women based on fundamental principles of equity, active participation, and natural rights.. For example, Gouges suggests that ” Having become free, he has become unjust to his companion,” implying that the principle of the French Declaration had made man accessible. Therefore, the idea of “rights” in De Gouges’s document is unique from those in the Declaration because her idea revolves around women’s rights and gender equality. Further, de Gouges seems most interested in rights related to women’s property ownership, education, and political participation.
The Declaration of the Rights documents speak more about the individual rights of man and the citizen. The assertion stems from the fact that the document was revolutionary, especially in challenging the oppressive structure of the old regime.. Further, the Declaration reflects various grievances against the old regime, such as arbitrary rule, religious orthodoxy, and social inequities. The Declaration document states, “The law shall provide for such punishments only as are strictly and necessary, and no one shall suffer punishment except it is legally inflicted in virtue of a law passed and promulgated before the commission of the offense.” The above Declaration portrays grievances raised about the old regime’s arbitrary rule. Unlike De Gouges’ document, the document on the Declaration of Rights propagates individual rights, focusing on collective rights, especially women’s rights. The rights of men and women are quite different based on the provisions in the two documents. For example, the fundamental idea behind women’s rights is to challenge gender bias and exclusion of women.. The idea is gender-neutral because it calls upon protecting both men’s and women’s rights. However, the idea behind the rights of men seems to silence women’s rights. Nonetheless, men’s and women’s rights align in agitating for equality before the law and the inherent rights of both sexes.
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In the “modern” sense, de Gouges decision to agitate for equal r
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