Title: Poignant Relations
Subtitle: Three Modern French Women
Description: To trace the origins of feminist consciousness in France, Dr. Allen explores the lives and words of three nineteenth-century women:  Marie-Sophie Leroyer de Chantepie (1800-1888), Geneviève Bréton (1849-1918), and Céline Renooz-Muro (1840-1928).  

Though not identifying themselves with any specific group of feminists -- indeed, even rejecting the label "feminist" -- these women wrote extensively about important feminist issues: marriage, sexuality, education, religion, and politics.  Theirs was a discreet, relational feminism, which they expressed by considering their relationships to themselves and to others.   Because they were less political (and thus less well known) than other feminists, these three women have been neglected by historians and literary theorists.  But they are thus more representative of a generation of women who often wrote about, but did not necessarily act on, their independent ideas.  For them, writing was transgression enough.  

By examining the writings of these three figures, including many unpublished diaries, letters, and memorabilia, Dr. Allen documents the deliberate efforts of modern French women to construct a stable, reliable, discursive self.
Subjects: Schriftstellerin, Feminisme, History, Feminismus, Feminism, Women
Places: France, Frankreich
People: Celine Renooz (1840-1928), Geneviève Bréton (1849-1918), Marie-Sophie Leroyer de Chantepie (1800-1888), Marie-Sophie Leroyer, C. Renooz, Geneviève Bréton (1848-1918), Geneviève Bréton, Céline Renooz
Time periods: 19th century