Practiced Citizenship

"Remarkably cohesive and consistent in tone and writing quality, Practiced Citizenship is historiography at its finest."—Hope Christiansen, French Review

"There is much to commend in this volume, not least the extensive research that underpins each essay. Its central concept of “citizenship as practice” enables a diverse exploration of the ways in which women carved out spaces for themselves in the social domain and were far from silent, especially on issues about which their womanhood gave them some particular interest under the gender norms of the day. Several chapters show how successful they were in influencing policy and shaping politics, even if they could not formulate policy or vote.This approach gives complexity to the notion of “citizenship” and highlights the different interpretations that can be applied to it."—Susan Foley, H-France Review

“Practiced Citizenship takes the issue of women’s citizenship, most often discussed theoretically by political scientists, and gives it concrete substance based on the activism and activities of women across almost two centuries of French history. The ramifications and the lessons to be learned go beyond the borders of France to help inform our understanding of women’s citizenship more generally. Rich in new archival research and work with primary sources, this volume shows the civic, political, and social activism and activities of women from all social classes. Quite a feat.”—Bonnie Smith, Board of Governors Distinguished Emerita Professor of History at Rutgers University