To what extent did women benefit from the revolutions in France and the United States? In what ways did revolutionary ideals fall short as applied to women?

Gained the ability to be politically active but were prevented from gaining citizenship or rights of a citizen.

Revolutions like in France and the US were grassroots efforts with many middle class people involved. Women of the middle class were involved in creating pamphlets, joining in spy networks, and hosting events, like salons, for revolutionaries to plan.

However, in the end, women were not granted citizenship rights in the countries they fought for. In France and the US, women were asked to return to a motherly role and take their place as educators for the next wave of citizens.

While women became more egalitarian in the sense that they were viewed as more equal than they were before, they still had less rights than had their male counterparts. This only changed through time which enabled women to gain more independence and equality.