What did the Enlightenment Lead to: Women’s Activism, Women’s Movement or Feminism? A Case-Study of France and the Usa

The Enlightenment triggered different reactions among women in Europe (the most illustrious case is France) and in the USA. The present paper analyses these reactions kindled by the Enlightenment in the two abovementioned geopolitical and cultural realms. It also analyses the development of certain social movements triggered by these reactions. Therefore, the epicentral question that I will attempt to answer is: what did the Enlightenment lead to in Europe (as exemplified by France) and in the USA: women’s activism, women’s movement, or feminism? Why did the Enlightenment influence the women’s rights movement differently in these two countries?