Writing in France in 1830 being women

In this article, we sketch the portrait of the woman of letters in France from the first third of the nineteenth century. This period offers elements that allow feminine literary talents to emerge. The Guizot Law, for instance, facilitates the opening of primary schools, the beginning of the diffusion of the press creates potential market for apprentice authors. But the strongest barriers for women to write are cultural obstacles. In fact, in France, literature is sacralized and associated with power and prestige. Accepting that women can write implies accepting that the division of roles in society is questioned. The paper first focuses on who these women were, what they wrote and which were the difficulties they found to be able to write. Then, a comparison with Canadian and American authors is presented pointing out similarities and differences. Finally, a comparison with authors belonging to different ideological frames is offered, from the women partisans of Saint-Simon to Catholic women eager to express themselves through writing.