Jeanne Deroin

The Sex Question

Jeanne Deroin, “A ceux qui nous méconnaissent / To Those Who Misunderstand Us” (1848)

September 16, 2022 Shawn P. Wilbur
A ceux qui nous méconnaissent. On nous nuit par excès de zèle, on nous accuse parce qu’on nous méconnaît, et de tous parts ce ne sont que clameurs comme si nous voulions renverser le monde et détruire tout ce qui est. Nous l’avons dit pourtant et nos intentions sont assez généreuses pour que nous n’ayons point à les cacher, nous voulons l’égalité sans désordre, la justice sans récriminations, et ce n’est pas, comme l’affirme un bulletin de la République, le privilège de l’intelligence que nous réclamons, nous que les premières avons eu le courage d’élever la voix. Ce que nous […]
The Sex Question

Jeanne Deroin, “The Mission of Women in the Present and in the Future” (first article) (1849)

October 14, 2012
The Mission of Women in the Present and in the Future. (first article.) The February Revolution, by inscribing on its banner the words Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, has recognized in principle the right of the people and of women. But many women, and it is the majority, do not know what change the power of their influence would bring to bear on human destinies if they were called to take their proper rank in society. The majority even keep that thought at bay, as an attack on religion and morals, and as a danger to society; they have been persuaded that […]
The Sex Question

Jeanne Deroin, “Prospectus” of l’Opinion des Femmes (1848)

October 14, 2012
L’OPINION DES FEMMES Prospectus The women who understand the greatness of their mission, in the present and in the future, feel deeply that it is for them not only a right, but a duty, to take part in all the acts of social life, and to express their opinion on all the questions that relate to the organization of society. Until now, men alone have ruled the destinies of the human race. Women have been excluded from all the religious and political assemblies, where the great principles on which societies are founded are discussed; and human intelligence, split by the […]
The Sex Question

Jeanne Deroin, “To the members of the commission of the banquet of socialist priests” (1849)

August 1, 2012
To the members of the commission of the banquet of socialist priests. Citizens, I come to your banquet because women are also priests, and they must have a place in the temple, as in the State and in the family. I come to ask to speak to you, because women are also apostles. Jesus Christ himself called them to apostleship, saying of Mary, who listened to his teaching, to Martha, who criticized her: Mary has chosen the better part. And if Christ, who did not want the light to be hidden under a bushel, allowed women to listen to his […]
Contr'un

“Archangel Saint Michael,” “Response to Satan”

July 4, 2012 Shawn P. Wilbur
[Note: In l’Opinion des Femmes, the author of this pamphlet is identified as Jeanne Deroin.) Society for the Mutual Education of Women. RESPONSE TO SATAN ON THE SUBJECT OF MR. PROUDHON BY THE ARCHANGEL SAINT-MICHEL How long, O Satan, do you hope to persecute with impunity the children of the true God? You have assumed every form in order to establish your empire on the earth; now you believe your power so solidly based that you dare to reveal yourself by your true name; for it is you who suggested, to a pamphleteer misled by your perfidious inspirations, the strange […]
Black and Red Feminism

Adrien Ranvier — Jeanne Deroin, A Feminist of 1848 — I

May 30, 2012 Shawn P. Wilbur
A FEMINIST OF 1848: Jeanne DEROIN This study of Jeanne Deroin is the work left by Adrien Ranvier, who died September 18, 1905, at Asniéres (Seine). Adrien Ranvier, born in 1807, son of Gabriel Ramier, member of the Commune, was raised, from 1871, by Madames Vincent and Mauriceau. Her father, Gabriel Ranvier, imprisoned after October 31 1870, was elected mayor of the XXth arrondissement and member of the Commune, March 26, 1871; was one of the last combatants of the Commune and only escaped from prison thanks to the shelter than he found in Asniéres, with the Girard and Mauriceau […]
Contr'un

God, Women and Proudhon — Eugène Stourm

March 20, 2012 Shawn P. Wilbur
Slowly, but surely, I’m assembling the various feminist responses to Proudhon. The pages of L’Opinion des Femmes is rich with that sort of thing, since it was Jeanne Deroin’s primary forum at the time she proposed herself for political office, and drew fire from Proudhon and others. In the May, 1849 issue, the following essay, by Eugène Stourm, appeared. I think it’s an interesting mix of fairly accurate critique and misunderstanding. Certainly, the more details emerge, the more interesting the conflict looks. I think this project is going to be a lot of fun. God, Women, and Proudhon. The enemies […]
Black and Red Feminism

From “L’Opinion des Femmes,” August 1848

May 16, 2011 Shawn P. Wilbur
These two short articles by Désirée Gay (Jeanne Desirée Véret Gay, 1810-1891) appeared in the August 1848 issue of L’Opinion des Femmes, which seems to have been a kind of testing of the waters before the launch of the official “First Year” of the paper. That issue had been preceded by a 4-page “Prospectus,” written by Jeanne Deroin, and the paper was essentially a continuation of La Politique des Femmes, but there was still a certain amount of work to do setting the tone for the project, and Gay seems to have taken on much of that work in the […]
Contr'un

L’Opinion des Femmes, 1848-1849

May 16, 2011 Shawn P. Wilbur
The letter from Jeanne Deroin to Proudhon that I just posted appeared in French in L’Opinion de Femmes, a radical feminist journal edited by Deroin and Désirée Gay. The entire run of the paper can be found at Gallica, tucked away in one of the volumes of Les Révolutions du XIXe Siècle. L’Opinion des Femmes is great stuff, with material by Deroin, Gay, Jean Macé, C. F. Chevé, and “Jeanne Marie” (probably Jeanne-Marie-Fabienne Poinsard, aka Jenny d’Héricourt.) The beginnings of the feud between Deroin and Proudhon is documented. Expect to see a lot of translations from this paper over the […]