1. Women in the Enlightenment

2. Salons Most prominent French salons hosted by influential women Gave philosophes social/political contacts and improved status Salon hosts helped boost sales of philosophes’ writing and protected from royal censors

3. Philosophes’ Attitude Toward Women Urged better, broader education (i.e. less religious focus) Generally advocated no major change in their social/political condition Traditional views of marriage and family- male dominated

4. The Encyclopedia Almost all contributors male Emphasized physical weakness, inferiority of women- usually attributed to menstruation and child bearing Motherhood women’s most important occupation Gave general sense the women were frivolous and unconcerned with important issues Suggested ways to improve women’s lives, but did not emphasize any need for reform

5. Rousseau Urged traditional, conservative role In Émile (1762) stated women should be educated for subordinate role, to make themselves pleasing to men Believed they were weaker, inferior in all respects (except capacity for love) Politics and government for men only Deeply influenced leaders of French Revolution Ironically, vastly popular among elite women

6. Mary Wollstonecraft Strongest response to limits philosophes put on women Inspired by policies of the French Revolution that were not generally favorable to women Quick take!