Women in the Paris Commune

Polish French feminist Paule MinkThe West takes pride in democracy, equality and liberty. Yet despite the existence of universal suffrage in many nations, several did not grant women voting rights until the 20th century (Germany did in 1918, the United States in 1920, Britain in 1928 and France in 1944). These slow advances have not weakened male domination in government, law, business and sports. Most women living in western systems still lag behind men even though their governments have granted them political and social equality. By contrast, the 19th century reveals an interim government known as the Paris Commune, which recognized women’s rights and employed their leadership in a class struggle for equality.

Although contemporary class struggles have subsided in most western nations, today women continue their fight for gender equality. Among some activists, radical feminism has become a prominent approach, but it is often problematic because it tends to vilify men in its quest to liberate women. In societies where men hold most positions of power, antagonism toward them is not fruitful. Perhaps it makes more sense to apply a proletarian social revolution—as advocated by Eleanor Marx and Clara Zetkin—to overcome gender inequality. The latter strategy unites the oppressed of all genders in a powerful alliance to restore economic justice. The Paris Commune may have lasted less than three months, but it exemplifies this strategy as a viable possibility for the future.

The Paris Commune developed during the Franco-Prussian war, which caused class inequality, famine, military failure, bombardment and occupation in Paris. During the period France's national guard refused to attack Parisians, helped them seize military equipment and sealed a united front to defend Paris against oppressive government forces. The rebellion comprised of civilians and militias prompted the evacuation of Paris and established the Paris Commune as a government that lasted from March to May of 1871.

During the revolution women had formed the Union des Femmes to galvanize and inform people. When the Commune was established, their Union played a significant role in its governance. Their agenda included topics concerning social, economic and political equality between the sexes; universal education; marital, sexual and secular freedom. In effect the Union functioned as an intermediary body between women and the Commune, and was recognized by the local press for its revolutionary achievement.

During its brief reign the Commune supported working class cooperatives led by men and women, but the women's Union sustained the most influence in Paris throughout the period. It helped the city manage workshops handling needle trade, laundry, feather processing, artificial flowers, munitions, uniforms and sandbags. The commune entrusted women with great responsibility in the areas of welfare management, provincial outreach, information management and education reform, as evidenced by the achievements of Paule Mink, Anne Jaclard and Andre Leo.

Central to the women's Union, was the understanding that the French civil war was a class war, the struggle of workers challenging a system that exploited them for the benefit of a small elite. Their foresight was innovative and sound because it aligned the women's struggle with the class struggle. In retrospect, their move was precise, given that a great number of women were part of the French working class.

Women's achievements during the Paris Commune show an innovative government that actualized and supported women’s productive equality in society. Motivated by social revolution and cooperation, men and women dispensed patriarchy for the greater common good. Although it existed more than 140 years ago, the Paris Commune shows that collaboration between the sexes and the integration of both in government may be the most effective approach in the fight for women's equality. It certainly has some lessons for radical feminism opposed to men.

Luke Orban prepared this text with assistance from e-feminist staff.