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The New World Oil: Hubertine Auclert and the Fight for Women's Suffrage in France

Caleb Long

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The New World Oil

by Hubertine Auclert

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Hubertine Auclert was a pioneering French feminist and suffragette who fought tirelessly for women's right to vote. She was a prolific writer, speaker, and organizer, and she played a leading role in the French women's suffrage movement. Auclert's work helped to pave the way for women's enfranchisement in France, and she is remembered as one of the most important figures in the history of women's rights.

Early Life and Education

Hubertine Auclert was born on April 10, 1848, in Saint-Quentin, France. Her father was a doctor, and her mother was a schoolteacher. Auclert received a good education, and she was fluent in several languages. She showed an early interest in social justice, and she was particularly concerned about the plight of women.

After completing her education, Auclert worked as a teacher and a journalist. In 1876, she married Pierre Auclert, a doctor. The couple had two children, but their marriage was not a happy one. Pierre Auclert was a conservative who did not share his wife's feminist views.

Feminist Activism

In the 1880s, Auclert became increasingly involved in feminist activism. She joined the French Women's Rights League, and she soon became one of the organization's leading members. In 1884, she founded her own feminist journal, La Citoyenne. Auclert used La Citoyenne to promote women's suffrage and to challenge traditional gender roles.

Auclert was a radical feminist who believed that women should be granted the same rights as men. She argued that women were just as intelligent and capable as men, and she rejected the idea that women were naturally inferior to men. Auclert also believed that women should have the right to control their own bodies and their own lives. She was a strong advocate for reproductive rights, and she spoke out against prostitution and forced marriage.

The Fight for Women's Suffrage

Auclert's main goal was to achieve women's suffrage. She believed that women would never be truly equal to men until they were granted the right to vote. In 1891, she founded the National Council of French Women, an organization dedicated to fighting for women's suffrage.

Auclert and the National Council of French Women organized numerous demonstrations and petitions in favor of women's suffrage. They also lobbied members of parliament and government officials. In 1906, Auclert and her supporters staged a large-scale demonstration in Paris. The demonstration was successful in attracting attention to the cause of women's suffrage, and it helped to put pressure on the government to take action.

In 1914, World War I broke out. Auclert and the National Council of French Women suspended their campaign for women's suffrage in order to focus on supporting the war effort. After the war, Auclert resumed her campaign for women's suffrage. However, she did not live to see women granted the right to vote in France. She died on March 17, 1914, at the age of 66.

Legacy

Hubertine Auclert was a pioneering feminist and suffragette who made a significant contribution to the fight for women's rights in France. Her work helped to pave the way for women's enfranchisement, and she is remembered as one of the most important figures in the history of women's suffrage.

Auclert's legacy continues to inspire feminists today. She was a tireless advocate for women's rights, and she never gave up on her dream of a more just and equal world for all.

Resources

* Hubertine Auclert, The New World Oil: A Study of American Women (1895) * Christine Bard, Les Filles de Marianne: Histoire des féminismes, 1789-2002 (2002) * Steven C. Hause, Hubertine Auclert: The French Suffragette (1987) * Judith Mack Simon, In the Shadow of the Statue of Liberty: The Feminists of the French Revolution (2001)

Image Credits

* [Image of Hubertine Auclert] By [name of photographer] (public domain) * [Image of a demonstration in favor of women's suffrage in France] By [name of photographer] (public domain)

The New World Oil

by Hubertine Auclert

4.7 out of 5