Born: 1848 (Allier département, Auvergne region, France)
Died: 1914
Biography:
Hubertine Auclert (10 April 1848 – 4 August 1914) was a leading French feminist and a campaigner for women’s suffrage. Born into a middle-class family in the Allier département in the Auvergne region of France, Auclert faced early challenges in her life. Her father passed away when she was just 13 years old, and her mother sent her to live and study in a Roman Catholic convent.
While at the convent, Auclert initially had plans to become a nun. However, at the age of 16, she made the decision to leave the convent and pursue a different path. Estranged from her mother, she found shelter with her uncle for a brief period of time but was eventually compelled to return to the convent. It was only in 1869 that Auclert left the convent for good and moved to Paris in 1873.
In Paris, the political landscape was changing as Emperor Napoleon III was ousted and the establishment of the Third Republic took place. This period of political transition provided an opportunity for women to become more active in demanding their rights. Women began advocating for changes to the Napoleonic Code, such as providing education and economic independence, as well as legalizing divorce.
Inspired by the influential feminist figures Maria Deraismes and Léon Richer, Auclert became involved in feminist work. She even took on a role as Richer’s secretary. Being exposed to the Catholic convent life heavily influenced her views, leading her to adopt a militant anticlerical stance. Alongside many other republican feminists of the time, Auclert committed herself to social activism and political engagement.
While the main focus of the French feminist movement was to bring about changes in laws, Auclert took her activism further. She became a strong advocate for women’s right to run for public office, arguing that the unfair laws would not have been passed if women legislators had been given the opportunity to voice their opinions. In 1876, Auclert founded the Société le droit des femmes (The Rights of Women) to provide support for women’s suffrage. The organization later changed its name in 1883 to the Société le suffrage des femmes (Women’s Suffrage Society).
In 1878, an International Congress on Women’s Rights was held in Paris, but to Auclert’s dismay, it did not support women’s suffrage. Undeterred, Auclert initiated a tax revolt in 1880, arguing that women should not be subjected to taxation without representation. She sought legal advice from attorney Antonin Lévrier, whom she later married. On 13 February 1881, Auclert launched La Citoyenne, a monthly publication that fervently advocated for women’s enfranchisement. The newspaper received support from prominent figures in the feminist movement, including Séverine and Marie Bashkirtseff, a respected socialite. In her writings, Auclert also introduced the term feminism into the English language in the 1890s, a term initially coined by Charles Fourier.
Throughout her career, Auclert consistently fought for women’s rights, passionately speaking on the subject at the Socialist Workers’ Congress in Marseille in 1879. She emphasized the need for economic independence for women, underscoring their natural rights to autonomy. Auclert’s activism and contributions to the feminist movement played a significant role in shaping public opinion and advancing women’s suffrage in France.