I like the concept of the salon.

The idea was generated in France in the XVIIth century by literary women. Later, the salon of Mme de Stael (who used to enrage Napoleon with her caustic remarks, her sharp wit and erudition) enjoyed quite a reputation as a place to promote advancement of the arts and sciences (they were co-ed, but always on women's turfs).

During the revolution, there were myriads of women's clubs (places where women would debate literate matters and also their role in the ongoing revolution, feminist politics, the role of violence in history (why not) and the like.