Did both women and slaves also get freedom and rights during the enlightenment? Was the enlightenment for everyone? And if so, who gave what rights?
During the Enlightenment, there were discussions about freedom, equality, and individual rights, but the application of these ideas varied between different thinkers, societies, and time periods. While some Enlightenment thinkers advocated for equal rights for all individuals, including women and slaves, these ideas were not universally accepted or implemented.
Regarding women, Enlightenment thinkers such as Mary Wollstonecraft argued for their inclusion in the concept of equal rights. Wollstonecraft's book "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman" (1792) called for women's education, social and political equality, and challenged prevailing gender roles. However, her ideas were not widely embraced during her time.
Similarly, concerning slaves, there were Enlightenment thinkers who questioned the legitimacy of slavery and advocated for its abolition. Prominent figures like Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Denis Diderot criticized slavery, and some societies, such as Quaker communities in England and the American colonies, began working towards its abolition.
However, it is important to note that despite these discussions, actual progress towards freedom and rights was limited during the Enlightenment. Many societies continued to maintain hierarchical structures that excluded women and slaves from enjoying full rights and freedoms.
Rights during this period were not "given" by a single authority. Instead, they were developed through a combination of philosophical debates, social movements, and political transformations. Enlightenment ideas influenced the progressive movements that followed, such as the abolitionist movement and the fight for women's suffrage.
Ultimately, the Enlightenment laid the groundwork for challenging oppressive systems and advocating for equality, but the full realization of these ideas took time and continued struggles in the centuries that followed.