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Social Status and attitudes toward women

Posted by Kristiana Georgieva on February 13, 2002 at 14:36:58:

Theme: Social status and attutide towards women in 18th century France

Argument:

According to the first primary source (Le Grand d’Aussy’s Voyage to Auvergne) women were at the lowest level of society. They pertained mostly to their everyday domestic duties and had minimal rights.

The second primary source (F.Y. Bernard , Memoires d’un Nonagenaire) shows a clear shift in the attitude towards women. They obtained more rights and occupied a higher position in the social hierarchy.

Supporting Evidence:

At first women were percepted as “ slaves, destined to do alll the work that was considerate servile and disdained ”(Baptiste, 147). Later on that attitude changed in a positive direction. Women’s hard – physical chores were taken by hired workers. They(women) were no longer treated as slaves and more respect was paid to them.

Another important fact is that women were isolated from men’s conversations and were not allowed to actively participate in them. The night talks were the only time during the whole day when women were given the chance to relax and enjoy themselves. However, later on, as the second primary source points out, women were more incorporated to social life. They were no longer isolated under “the special paid lamp” (Le Grand d’Aussy), but had the right to join men in the tavern.

Connection: Women’s role and attitude towards them in 18-th century is one one of the main points in Bonnie Smith’s Eighteenth – Century Worlds. According to it women were “responsible for all activities within the house” (Smith 7) and were obliged to do most of the hard work.

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: Theme: Social status and attutide towards women in 18th century France : : Argument: : According to the first primary source (Le Grand d’Aussy’s Voyage to Auvergne) women were at the lowest level of society. They pertained mostly to their everyday domestic duties and had minimal rights. : The second primary source (F.Y. Bernard , Memoires d’un Nonagenaire) shows a clear shift in the attitude towards women. They obtained more rights and occupied a higher position in the social hierarchy. : : Supporting Evidence: : At first women were percepted as “ slaves, destined to do alll the work that was considerate servile and disdained ”(Baptiste, 147). Later on that attitude changed in a positive direction. Women’s hard – physical chores were taken by hired workers. They(women) were no longer treated as slaves and more respect was paid to them. : Another important fact is that women were isolated from men’s conversations and were not allowed to actively participate in them. The night talks were the only time during the whole day when women were given the chance to relax and enjoy themselves. However, later on, as the second primary source points out, women were more incorporated to social life. They were no longer isolated under “the special paid lamp” (Le Grand d’Aussy), but had the right to join men in the tavern. : : Connection: Women’s role and attitude towards them in 18-th century is one one of the main points in Bonnie Smith’s Eighteenth – Century Worlds. According to it women were “responsible for all activities within the house” (Smith 7) and were obliged to do most of the hard work.

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