5/7/24 Brussels: Marie Popelin

     I have gained knowledge about Marie Popelin's noteworthy achievements to the Belgian women's rights movement due to our talks today. Her pioneering achievements in the legal field are admirable and her support for women's access to education. Popelin is an inspiration to me because of her willingness to always try new things and persevere in the face of prejudice and social obstacles. While she was not allowed to take the "lawyer" exam, she insisted on attending law school which was rare for a woman at the time. Marie Popelin inspires women to keep fighting for their place in respective fields. When she spoke out for gender equality and challenged the established quo during a period when such ideas were frequently received with hostility and opposition, she showed incredible courage and perseverance. Even in the midst of hardship, her legacy serves as a reminder of how important it is to fight for justice and equality. 

    Marie Popelin's work is important for a number of reasons. Her support of women's suffrage and education, first and foremost, reshaped firmly established social conventions during that time. This gave women in Belgium more chances to have equal legal competence. Second, she broke down boundaries in the legal profession by being the first woman to graduate with a law degree from the Université Libre de Bruxelles, opening the door for later generations of female attorneys. Her efforts sparked public debate on women's rights and changed laws, ultimately advancing gender equality in Belgian society. Popelin's legacy, which urges the life-changing potential of human involvement, keeps encouraging advancement in women's rights movements around the world.

    Is Marie commemorated well? No. In my opinion, Marie Popelin has not received enough attention. Although she has received some credit for her contributions—a Brussels street has her name, for example—her legacy deserves more acknowledgement. Although I did not attend her street, I was told it was not an appropriate representation of Marie Popelin. An appropriate memorial might be a statue, school, or other establishment named after her. It would act as a continual reminder of her revolutionary efforts and encourage next generations to carry on the battle for gender equality. Such tributes would guarantee that her name and accomplishments endure for many years to come. Her status as a trailblazer for women's rights in Belgian history would be remembered for future generations.


Comments

  1. Lilly PetersonMay 7, 2024 at 2:22 PM

    Marie Popelin definitely faced a lot of obstacles throughout her life like you mentioned! She was unable to ever be a practicing lawyer because of her gender, even though she completed law school. I think that we definitely still see some of these obstacles for women today. You are less likely to see women in careers such as lawyer or doctor for a variety of reasons, but luckily it is no longer against the law and we have legal equality!

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  2. Sienna PuckrinMay 9, 2024 at 2:20 PM

    Marie Popelin does not get enough credit for the work that she did. I like what you said about how her legacy could be a light to future generations. She was denied access to the bar exam on the basis of her gender, and did not win the appeal once she lost the court case. She has faced many tribulations but kept finding the light by creating those societies for women. Hopefully today her actions will be remembered so that the world can learn from the past to help the present.

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