WOMEN’S PETITION TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.
The primary purpose of the women’s petition to the national assembly (France 1789) was aimed to address the sexual difference. During that time, women realized that the society in which they were living was not practising justice and fairness. As a result, they decided to challenge that by raising a petition in court. Here they intended to address issues such as the privileges given to the male sex in France to be abolished irrevocably. Hence both genders were to enjoy the same privileges and rights altogether without any in exclusion.
Regarding of the masculine gender as noble was also another petition raised that needed to be abolished immediately. Wearing of breeches by the males and forcing cowardice soldiers to wear women’s clothes was also supposed to stop. Thus women could also be appointed as magistrates and treated with the same respect as men.
The authors in this petition are staging a sensible and robust argument. Basing their petition on happening experiences within France, the women are fighting for their equality. Males during that time are considered superior to their fellow counterparts. Authors try to advance their goals by ensuring the decree of the petition is highlighted and well presented. They have also used the logical approach of acknowledging that all individuals are equal and deserve to be treated fairly and equally. Any form of favours or privileges whatsoever should apply across all genders. The authors’ rhetorical strategy includes the appreciating of the female gender and encouraging fair treatment to their petitions. Therefore, the petition uses an appealing tone and firm and straightforward words to pass their petition.
Several assumptions and instances of biasness are seen in the text. They include; considering women cowards. Denying women administrative posts creates an assumption that women cannot make a good leader. From the text, soldiers who failed to prove their prowess at battlefields were brought back home and forced to wear women’s clothing. Thus, this created some assumption that females are cowards and cannot do something out of brevity.
Moreover, denying the women of administrative posts such as being judges and magistrates depicts their biased nature. Manifestly, the ideas and values from the source differ from the ideas and values today. We are now living in an era where feminine discrimination has been brought into control. Seeing women hold administrative posts is now the order of the day. Therefore, the difference in today’s values and back then influences the understanding of the text by making a reader develop male chauvinism based on the text.
The status of the French women in the 1780s was mixed with pain, suffering and oppression. Initially, women were less respected and rarely allowed to express themselves in society. They endured oppression, pain and suffering that originated from their counterparts, the male. Over the years, this came to change. At the moment, France appreciates women’s leadership and administration. Both males and females enjoy privileges in the country. Cases of discrimination against black people are a thing of the past in France; now, all races are equally valued. Cases of discrimination along social lines are also a thing of the past. The way of life had to be changed to promote equality, fairness, and justice. Therefore, the current state of society in France today is very different from the one in the 1780s.
By relating the women’s petition to the national assembly with men’s rights, there are several similarities and differences as well. In both texts, the issues of equality and fairness have been widely addressed. The primary rights of man suggest that man should be treated fairly without any form of discrimination whatsoever. Further reading of both scripts brings about slight differences. One is all about reclaiming women’s rights, while the other script is all about the declaration of human rights. Therefore, despite the differences therein, both scripts try to change the way of life of the people involved.