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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Women's representation in french factums (1770-1789)

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This survey (PhD) sheds light on women’s status in the French society between 1770 and 1789, through the study of approximately 200 printed judicial briefs or factums. Although they were under men’s control, women could go to court. Wives had to obey their husbands. Nevertheless, they often showed their independence in judicial briefs. Widows could act by themselves, protect their families and influence the wealth distribution between the family members. “Girls” or “never-married women” are rare in judicial briefs, even though they could play important parts. The mother’s authority was recognized in judicial briefs. Other women also played the mother’s part instead of the real mother, e.g. godmothers, grand-mothers, aunts, sisters and wet-nurses. Sisters were not always under their brothers’ control. Judicial briefs interrogate the idea of women’s nature as it was portrayed before the French Revolution. Unlike physicians’ and philosophers’ discourses, they do not support the idea that there should be a specific nature of women.