Hubertine Auclert

   

Hubertine Auclert was a French activist and writer born in 1848. According to Geri Walton, Auclert was sent to live in a Catholic convent when she was 13 to become a nun. Her "vivacious personality" led her to leave, or in some accounts, was kicked out of the convent. Her wild personality opened many doors for her, as she was known for standing up for what she believed in. This led her to begin working with other women to further the rights of women. Some of her main issues she pushed were for women to have equal pay for equal work (which as many of you know is still not accomplished in the modern era) and gaining the right for women to be a part of government because she realized that many of the unfair laws and practices would not have passed if there was at least one woman who could speak on their behalf. In 1876, Auclert founded Société le Droit des Femmes (The Rights of Women) which she later renamed Société le Suffrage Des Femmes (Women’s Suffrage Society) due to the popularization of the term "suffragette." La Citoyenne was a monthly newsletter created by Hubertine Auclert herself in 1881. It was a monthly newsletter that she used to write about various feminist issues and often had guest writers contribute to the paper. With her work in La Citoyenne, Auclert is credited with bringing the word "feminism" to the English speaking world.

Auclert's biggest accomplishment is definitely her work in Algeria. While many of the first-wave feminists focused on votes for women, any woman who was not upper or middle class, white, from the western world, and educated was left with the same lack of representation and protection as before the movement. Hubertine Auclert's activism ranks high above many other activists because even though she was a white, educated, and a first-wave feminist, she lived and fought in Algeria for the protection and elevation of Algerian women. Her work as a writer led to her to document her findings which allowed her work to be more accessible to people living in the western world. She documented what life was like for Algerian women in great detail. She believed that a country that colonizes another had the responsibility to elevate the people, not allow them to live in squalor while the colonizer benefits off their resources and labor. Here is an excerpt from the conclusion of Hubertine Auclert's novel Arab Women in Algeria, translated by Jacqueline Grenez Brovender:

     "In taking possession of Algeria, France assumed responsibility for the Arabs’ happiness.    Nevertheless, instead of offering them the advantages of civilization, it has been keeping them for seventy years under a barbaric oppression.
     The vanquished Arabs, unarmed, ridiculed, exploited, and despoiled by the authorities and individuals, are torn between our laws and theirs, relegated to the Code de l’indigénat when they escape the French or Muslim legislation. In order to justify our cruelty and extortions, we pretend to be in a situation of self-defense, as if facing an enemy."

Auclert's opinion of colonized people was definitely a controversial one in the 19th century, but that does not mean that it is any less true. Many parallels can be drawn between 19th century imperial France and the way many immigrants and people of third-world countries are treated by modern day Americans and the American government just from that small excerpt. She fought for not only women, but those who could not fight for themselves. Her attitude toward feminism and true equality is a strong legacy that lives on.

Hubertine Auclert's legacy is evident in today's world in many ways. First, and most obvious, she brought and popularized the term "feminism" in the English speaking world. While she did not invent the term, she was a key part in its widespread use. Secondly, her work in Algeria has led to outreach programs for women in third world countries. There is currently a Hubertine Auclert Center in France that acts as a resource and aid center for French women. If you would like to visit the page, there is a link here. Unfortunately, I was unable to find an English version of the site, but the translated version of the page is actually quite nice. The center's main philosophy, which is definitely in line with what Auclert herself would write, is:

"A Resource Center Dedicated to the Promotion of Gender Equality"

Sources:

Brovender, Jacqueline Grenez, trans. "Conclusion." Counterpoints 361.GHOSTS OF NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND (2011): 159-93. De Gruyter, Dec. 2014. Web.

Walton, Geri. "French Victorian Feminist Hubertine Auclert." Geri Walton. N.p., 05 Mar. 2017. Web.