What was the common attitude towards female participation in political discussions in England and France during the 17th and 18th century?

During the 17th and 18th centuries, societal norms in both England and France largely discouraged female participation in political discussions. This era was characterized by a prevalent belief in the separate spheres ideology, which assigned women to the domestic realm and relegated men to public life and politics.

In England and France, women were often viewed as less educated and too emotionally driven to engage in rational political discourse. The intellectual circles, salons, and political debates of the time were predominantly male-dominated environments that limited women’s voices. Even when women did participate in discussions—especially in salons in France—they often did so in a subordinate role, usually facilitating conversations rather than leading them.

This lack of support and recognition for female political engagement is reflected in the common attitudes during this period, where men actively discouraged women from contributing to political discussions, reinforcing the notion that political matters were a masculine domain.