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David Garrioch, “The everyday
lives of Parisian women and
the October Days of 1789”
This text discusses the surprising and significant role of women in the French
Revolution, particularly focusing on the October Days of 1789 when Parisian
women marched to Versailles. The author highlights the suddenness of
women's involvement in political actions, emphasizing that women played a
crucial role in initiating and leading the events.
Despite the common perception that women lacked political awareness, the
text argues that the women involved in the October Days demonstrated a
strong sense of female independence and political consciousness. They
actively participated in actions such as breaking into the Hôtel de Ville and
insisting on going to the National Assembly at Versailles.
The author questions why ordinary working women, with less formal
education and excluded from the National Guard, were able to carry out such
a massive political insurrection early in the revolution. The text suggests that
two factors have hindered a closer study of this phenomenon: the focus on
demonstrating the extent of female involvement rather than explaining it,
and the greater interest in women's clubs of 1793.
David Garrioch, “The everyday lives of Parisian women and the October Days of 1789” 1
, The text explores various explanations for women's participation in the
revolution, including the absorption and adaptation of political ideas, the
influence of events starting in 1788, and the role of political education from
above. It also considers factors like work, organizational traditions in
artisanal trades, and the consciousness-raising role of spinning workshops
in 1790.
The author builds on previous explanations, proposing that issues of food
supply, a traditionally female domain, fell into women's responsibilities. The text
emphasizes a continuity in the actions and thinking of working women from the
Old Regime into the revolution. The October Days are seen as unprecedented
due to their scale, grasp of the new political reality, and involvement of women
from various parts of the city.
The second part of the article suggests that the integration of the city across
the early modern period and the political education of July 1789 explain the
new features of women's revolutionary action. The working identities of men
and women in Old Regime Paris are contrasted, highlighting the central role
of paid work in male identity and the intertwining of work and family roles.
Work and Social Identity for Men:
1. Work structured a man's entire life, providing him with a place in the social
hierarchy.
2. It situated him in a metaphysical universe through the intercession of the
trade's patron saint.
3. Work served as the principal means of integrating men into the city,
whether as migrants or native-born Parisians.
4. For men, work was crucial for integrating into neighborhood communities
and developing a strong local identity.
5. The culture of the workshop provided ideological and rhetorical tools for
men to participate politically in struggles within the guilds.
Role of Paid Employment for Women:
1. Paid employment played a different role for women compared to men.
2. Women in corporate trades were often confined to poorly paid, least
skilled, and insecure jobs.
3. Even skilled seamstresses and women workers in workshops rarely
formed professional associations or went on strike.
David Garrioch, “The everyday lives of Parisian women and the October Days of 1789” 2
David Garrioch, “The everyday
lives of Parisian women and
the October Days of 1789”
This text discusses the surprising and significant role of women in the French
Revolution, particularly focusing on the October Days of 1789 when Parisian
women marched to Versailles. The author highlights the suddenness of
women's involvement in political actions, emphasizing that women played a
crucial role in initiating and leading the events.
Despite the common perception that women lacked political awareness, the
text argues that the women involved in the October Days demonstrated a
strong sense of female independence and political consciousness. They
actively participated in actions such as breaking into the Hôtel de Ville and
insisting on going to the National Assembly at Versailles.
The author questions why ordinary working women, with less formal
education and excluded from the National Guard, were able to carry out such
a massive political insurrection early in the revolution. The text suggests that
two factors have hindered a closer study of this phenomenon: the focus on
demonstrating the extent of female involvement rather than explaining it,
and the greater interest in women's clubs of 1793.
David Garrioch, “The everyday lives of Parisian women and the October Days of 1789” 1
, The text explores various explanations for women's participation in the
revolution, including the absorption and adaptation of political ideas, the
influence of events starting in 1788, and the role of political education from
above. It also considers factors like work, organizational traditions in
artisanal trades, and the consciousness-raising role of spinning workshops
in 1790.
The author builds on previous explanations, proposing that issues of food
supply, a traditionally female domain, fell into women's responsibilities. The text
emphasizes a continuity in the actions and thinking of working women from the
Old Regime into the revolution. The October Days are seen as unprecedented
due to their scale, grasp of the new political reality, and involvement of women
from various parts of the city.
The second part of the article suggests that the integration of the city across
the early modern period and the political education of July 1789 explain the
new features of women's revolutionary action. The working identities of men
and women in Old Regime Paris are contrasted, highlighting the central role
of paid work in male identity and the intertwining of work and family roles.
Work and Social Identity for Men:
1. Work structured a man's entire life, providing him with a place in the social
hierarchy.
2. It situated him in a metaphysical universe through the intercession of the
trade's patron saint.
3. Work served as the principal means of integrating men into the city,
whether as migrants or native-born Parisians.
4. For men, work was crucial for integrating into neighborhood communities
and developing a strong local identity.
5. The culture of the workshop provided ideological and rhetorical tools for
men to participate politically in struggles within the guilds.
Role of Paid Employment for Women:
1. Paid employment played a different role for women compared to men.
2. Women in corporate trades were often confined to poorly paid, least
skilled, and insecure jobs.
3. Even skilled seamstresses and women workers in workshops rarely
formed professional associations or went on strike.
David Garrioch, “The everyday lives of Parisian women and the October Days of 1789” 2
