Womens rights in europe

Leto · 06-10-2005, 08:44 AM

At least English people remember Bonaparte with some respect. Don't count on me for this. His Civil Code was one of the worst thing to happen to french women in millenia.

Stalker · 06-14-2005, 09:28 AM

They should also remember Admiral Villeneuve with respect who warned that stubborn Napoleon not to haste the French navy from the ports to meet Nelson. Otherwise, the English would speak French by now.

and the Irish would ing happily,"Oh, sea, sweet sea, between England and me..." :biggrin:

Princess Ivy · 06-14-2005, 11:22 AM

many historical battles; to qualify; with strong millitrary leaders; come down to luck in the end. i have no respect or disrespect for napoleon. but then i'm neither english nor french

Leto · 06-14-2005, 11:35 AM

As him, he was corsican.

Princess Ivy · 06-14-2005, 11:38 AM

i actually did know that. hehe. i love useless trivia. was refering to you comment that as a french woman you have no respect for him. and that english people seem to.

Leto · 06-14-2005, 11:41 AM

be precise. half-french, the other half despise him because of Murat.

Stalker · 06-14-2005, 12:14 PM

I once was a big buonapartist - doesn't it sound strange for a Ukrainian with Russian background?
I still think that Napoleon though rightfully being responsible for wars and military ruinage of la belle France, did much to raise a new much more free citizen of Europe. It was him who transformed French peasantry into free farmers and not Directory or Jacobins. His damned clan then overwelmed him and a Corsican spirit within Napoleon defeated a brave revolutionary general, the hero of Toulon, but it happened later and by that time he had become an opressor, and he could have been a liberator.
Undefeatable General-Field Marshal Alexander Suvorov was of a high opinion about Napoleon, and that says something of the military genious of the latter, that old fox Kutuzov paid great respect to him, but above all this, I guess, that in 1815 the whole Paris was ready to fight for the Emperor, and he retired - that says more than any words. All is aknowledged in comparison: that naphthalene-smelling king Luis XVIII who fled like a rat in March 1815 and Napoleon who won the whole great country without a single shot! He gave France an impetus that moves the country even now. I know that my point of view is arguable but that is what I think.

Leto · 06-14-2005, 12:29 PM

Yep, but thanks to him, till past the middle of XXth century, French women had to request their husband authorisation to work and didn't earn their own money, nor had any authority on their children education.
And to think one of my ancestors actually help writing this bloody civil code... :redface: Only good article of it is the one about civil responsibility.

Princess Ivy · 06-14-2005, 01:05 PM

I honestly don't know enough to comment on that

06-17-2005, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leto

Yep, but thanks to him, till past the middle of XXth century, French women had to request their husband authorisation to work and didn't earn their own money, nor had any authority on their children education.
And to think one of my ancestors actually help writing this bloody civil code... :redface: Only good article of it is the one about civil responsibility.

This is a little off-topic but relevant (I think) nonetheless. I've recently just read about the 'Bondagers'. These were women in Scotland whose men worked on a farm. To gain living quarters, the women had to work on the farm for absolutely no pay whatsoever! Married men were preferred for employment because that way, a free pair of hands (the wife) was added to the workforce. This tradition only died out around the time of the first world war. My point is, it wasn't just Napoleon that treated women shabbily.

Just thought I'd add that to the mix :biggrin: