Olympe de Gouges, born Marie Gouze, was a trailblazing figure in the feminist movement, recognized for her articulate advocacy for women's rights during the American and French Revolutions. One of her most notable works, the 'Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen,' directly challenged the male-centric Declaration of the Rights of Man and sought to highlight gender inequalities that persisted even in revolutionary ideology. Her stance on social justice extended beyond gender, encompassing issues like abolition and anti-slavery, which further complicated her reception within the revolutionary government.

The radical phase of the French Revolution saw increasing tension between revolutionary ideals and reality, leading to the persecution of those deemed counter-revolutionary. De Gouges, who spoke against the violence of the radicals, especially during the Reign of Terror, found herself labeled a royalist sympathizer. Authorities arrested her in 1793, primarily for promoting ideas that clashed with the ruling Jacobins and for her criticisms of the government. On November 3, de Gouges was brought to the guillotine, where she famously proclaimed her beliefs in the equality of all citizens, right before her execution. Her death marked the silencing of one of the Revolution's earliest advocates for women's rights.