Marlène Schiappa discusses Catherine Deneuve, Emmanuel Macron, and the path forward for French women.
Last month, just before “Saturday Night Live” parodied Catherine Deneuve and Brigitte Bardot as wine-swilling reactionaries, Marlène Schiappa, a Frenchwoman with significantly greater authority on gender issues, made a quick visit to New York. Schiappa is the gender-equality minister in President Emmanuel Macron’s government. A former blogger (her Web site, Maman Travaille, was among the country’s first online resources for working mothers) and author (she edited an anthology called “Letters to My Uterus”), she is, according to a recent poll, the fourth most popular member of the Macron cabinet, and among the most outspoken. Since her appointment, last May, she has campaigned against les violences obstétricales—painful or traumatizing procedures that women undergo during childbirth, including unnecessary episiotomies. The day after the publication of the Deneuve letter, which Schiappa deemed “dangerous,” she exchanged friendly tweets with Asia Argento, one of Harvey Weinstein’s accusers.
“The French feminist movement has never been a single bloc, it’s never been monolithic,” Schiappa said upon her return to Paris, receiving a visitor in her office. Among other jabs the Deneuve letter made at American-style feminism, it denounced the “puritanism” of the #MeToo movement. Schiappa went on, “In France, when one wants to say that we mustn’t go too far, the expression is ‘We must not Americanize society.’ As if people in the United States don’t seduce each other, don’t have relationships. I was in New York for two days. I took elevators with men. They didn’t make me sign a contract beforehand saying that I wasn’t going to sue them. It’s even possible that some of them might have flirted.”
Schiappa, who is thirty-five, had gone to New York to attend a conference on women in corporate leadership. Her itinerary left no time for extracurriculars. “I ate a club sandwich,” she said. Her impressions owed as much to Tocqueville as they did to Lena Dunham and to Jezebel, both of whom she cited as influences. “I always notice the energy and the volunteerism that exist in America,” she said. “Regarding the place of women, the reflex in France is to say, ‘What’s the state going to do for me?’ ” In New York, Schiappa had announced that the French government was creating, in partnership with the World Economic Forum, a task force, in order, she said, “to take the best of public engagement from France, and the best of private engagement from the States.”
Macron has designated gender equality the grande cause of his five-year term. In the legislative elections last June, half of his party’s slate of candidates were women. (Gender parity has been the law in France since 2000, but parties often choose to pay fines rather than heed it.) Two hundred and twenty-three women were elected to the French parliament, making it thirty-eight per cent female, nearly fifty per cent more than the previous record. Still, some feminists feel let down by Macron, who had strongly hinted that he might pick a female to be Prime Minister, only to select Édouard Philippe, an establishmentarian whose sole contribution to diversity is his beard. And this month a woman accused Gérald Darmanin, Macron’s young budget minister, of having raped her in 2009. (Darmanin has said that he will sue her for defamation. In 2004, she was convicted of blackmail.)
The situation has put Schiappa in a tricky position. “I couldn’t be in a government with someone who was charged with rape,” she said. “But there is a presumption of innocence, and he hasn’t been charged.” (Last week, another minister, Nicolas Hulot, was accused of sexual assault. He denies any wrongdoing.) She continued, cleverly, “Just because there was a complaint against this woman for defamation doesn’t mean we have to consider her guilty of defamation.”
In a recent profile titled “How Far Will Marlène Schiappa Go?,” the newsweekly Le Point characterized her as “the blundering, too talkative young cousin” of the administration. Annoyed with such coverage, she has begun wearing her hair in a businesslike updo, but she is determined, whatever controversy may come, to enact a law that would make street harassment punishable by an on-the-spot fine. “There’s a study that just came out that says that eight women in ten in France are afraid when they go out by themselves at night,” she said. “Importuner des femmes”—bothering women—she went on, using Deneuve’s formulation. “It’s not like they’re offering women a rose in the street.”
That weekend, she said, she had heard her eleven-year-old exchanging tips with a friend: “My daughter said, ‘Watch out if there’s a group of guys coming—you need to look straight in front of you.’ And her friend said, ‘That’s not my technique. I pretend to be on the phone or listening to music.’ ” Schiappa continued, “That says that we’re steeped in this, that it’s an inevitability—that when it rains we take an umbrella, that when we’re hungry we eat, that when we enter a shop we say ‘Bonjour,’ and that when someone harasses us in the street we do this. I find that terrible.” ♦
Like!! I blog quite often and I genuinely thank you for your information. The article has truly peaked my interest.
It is in reality a great and useful piece of info. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
I believe you have noted some very interesting details, thankyou for the post. 🙂
I spent four years trying EVERYTHING in Online Dating, and through a huge amount of trial and error, I produced a system that I will share for you. This book will take you, step by step, through everything you need to know to double, triple or even quadruple the number of women you meet online.
I travel all around the world for work, and it used to be really lonely. Now I can go onto Tinder and have a date lined up in a new city before I even get out of the airport!
After study just a few of the blog posts on your web site now, and I really like your approach of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark web site checklist and shall be checking back soon. Pls take a look at my web site as well and let me know what you think.
It is really a great and useful piece of information. I am glad that you shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
Hi to every body, it’s my first pay a visit of this website;
this website contains amazing and genuinely good information designed for readers.
Some genuinely wonderful work on behalf of the owner of this web site, perfectly outstanding articles.
I couldn’t resist commenting
Regards for this post, I am a big big fan of this site would like to keep updated.
Hi my friend! I wish to say that this post is awesome, great written and include almost all vital infos. I?¦d like to see more posts like this .
Greetings! Very helpful advice on this article! It is the little changes that make the biggest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
Great post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m impressed! Very helpful information particularly the last part 🙂 I care for such information a lot. I was looking for this particular info for a long time. Thank you and good luck.
Thanks for another great post. Where else may anyone get that type of info in such an ideal way of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I am on the look for such information.
Great post. I am facing a couple of these problems.
Saved as a favorite, I really like your blog!
I am impressed with this website , rattling I am a big fan .
I like this post, enjoyed this one regards for posting. “No man is wise enough by himself.” by Titus Maccius Plautus.
I like this site so much, bookmarked.
Enjoyed reading this, very good stuff, regards. “Shared joys make a friend, not shared sufferings.” by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche.
Keep working ,terrific job!
Hi! This is my first comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and tell you I genuinely enjoy reading your blog posts. Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that deal with the same topics? Thanks!
you have a great weblog right here! would you wish to make some invite posts on my weblog?
Please let me know if you’re looking for a writer for your blog. You have some really great articles and I feel I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d absolutely love to write some content for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please shoot me an e-mail if interested. Kudos!
It’s hard to find knowledgeable people on this topic, but you sound like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
Great write-up, I¦m normal visitor of one¦s website, maintain up the excellent operate, and It is going to be a regular visitor for a long time.
Would love to incessantly get updated outstanding web blog! .
It’s the best time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to be happy. I’ve read this post and if I could I want to suggest you some interesting things or suggestions. Perhaps you could write next articles referring to this article. I desire to read more things about it!
Some truly nice and useful information on this internet site, too I think the design and style has good features.
I genuinely enjoy reading on this web site, it holds excellent articles. “Literature is the orchestration of platitudes.” by Thornton.
Well I definitely liked studying it. This subject provided by you is very effective for correct planning.
Thank you for sharing with us, I conceive this website genuinely stands out : D.
As a Newbie, I am continuously browsing online for articles that can be of assistance to me. Thank you
What¦s Happening i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve discovered It absolutely useful and it has aided me out loads. I am hoping to contribute & help other users like its helped me. Great job.
I really treasure your piece of work, Great post.
This is really attention-grabbing, You’re a very professional blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking extra of your magnificent post. Additionally, I’ve shared your site in my social networks!
great post.Never knew this, thankyou for letting me know.
Howdy very nice site!! Man .. Excellent .. Superb .. I’ll bookmark your site and take the feeds additionally…I’m glad to search out so many useful information right here within the put up, we want work out more techniques on this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .
Nice blog here! Also your website loads up very fast! What host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my site loaded up as quickly as yours lol
I will immediately clutch your rss as I can’t to find your e-mail subscription link or e-newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please allow me know in order that I may just subscribe. Thanks.
It is really a great and helpful piece of info. I am glad that you just shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
Rattling nice design and wonderful articles, hardly anything else we need : D.
I like this web blog its a master peace ! Glad I noticed this on google .
You have noted very interesting details! ps decent internet site. “Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day.” by Sally Koch.
very nice post, i definitely love this web site, carry on it
Pretty! This was a really wonderful post. Thank you for your provided information.
Thank you a lot for sharing this with all of us you really know what you are speaking approximately! Bookmarked. Please additionally discuss with my website =). We may have a hyperlink trade agreement among us!
Very interesting subject , appreciate it for putting up.
Hey very cool site!! Guy .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your web site and take the feeds additionally…I’m glad to find numerous useful information here in the submit, we want develop more techniques in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
Well I truly liked reading it. This information offered by you is very effective for good planning.
Hello.This post was extremely interesting, particularly because I was investigating for thoughts on this topic last Saturday.
I think this website has very excellent indited content material blog posts.
I will immediately snatch your rss as I can not to find your email subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please permit me recognise so that I may subscribe. Thanks.
I truly appreciate this post. I?¦ve been looking everywhere for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You’ve made my day! Thank you again
Thanx for the effort, keep up the good work Great work, I am going to start a small Blog Engine course work using your site I hope you enjoy blogging with the popular BlogEngine.net.Thethoughts you express are really awesome. Hope you will right some more posts.
I am continually invstigating online for posts that can aid me. Thank you!
I’ll immediately seize your rss as I can’t to find your email subscription link or newsletter service. Do you have any? Please permit me know so that I may just subscribe. Thanks.
I do enjoy the way you have framed this specific difficulty and it does indeed provide us some fodder for thought. On the other hand, because of everything that I have experienced, I only hope as other remarks stack on that people keep on point and in no way embark upon a tirade involving some other news of the day. Anyway, thank you for this exceptional piece and while I do not necessarily go along with this in totality, I value your viewpoint.
Yay google is my world beater aided me to find this outstanding website ! .
I discovered your weblog website on google and check a few of your early posts. Proceed to maintain up the very good operate. I simply additional up your RSS feed to my MSN Information Reader. Looking for forward to studying extra from you afterward!…
Hi there, simply become alert to your weblog via Google, and located that it is truly informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels. I will be grateful for those who proceed this in future. Numerous other folks will probably be benefited out of your writing. Cheers!
It’s best to take part in a contest for among the best blogs on the web. I will suggest this web site!
Normally I do not read article on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to try and do it! Your writing style has been amazed me. Thanks, very nice article.
I just couldn’t leave your site before suggesting that I really loved the usual information a person supply for your visitors? Is going to be back steadily to check out new posts.
When I initially commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get three emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove people from that service? Thanks!
Do you mind if I quote a couple of your articles as long as I provide credit and sources back to your weblog? My blog site is in the very same niche as yours and my visitors would really benefit from some of the information you provide here. Please let me know if this alright with you. Thanks!
Hello just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The words in your article seem to be running off the screen in Opera. I’m not sure if this is a formatting issue or something to do with internet browser compatibility but I figured I’d post to let you know. The design look great though! Hope you get the problem solved soon. Cheers
Does your site have a contact page? I’m having a tough time locating it but, I’d like to shoot you an email. I’ve got some suggestions for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great website and I look forward to seeing it improve over time.
You can definitely see your expertise within the paintings you write. The sector hopes for even more passionate writers such as you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. At all times follow your heart.
I would like to thnkx for the efforts you have put in writing this blog. I am hoping the same high-grade blog post from you in the upcoming as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own blog now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings quickly. Your write up is a good example of it.
Its like you read my mind! You appear to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you could do with a few pics to drive the message home a bit, but instead of that, this is wonderful blog. A great read. I will definitely be back.
I truly appreciate this post. I have been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thank you again!
My partner and I stumbled over here by a different page and thought I might check things out. I like what I see so i am just following you. Look forward to looking over your web page yet again.
Unquestionably believe that which you stated. Your favorite reason seemed to be on the web the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I definitely get irked while people think about worries that they just do not know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and defined out the whole thing without having side effect , people can take a signal. Will probably be back to get more. Thanks
You are a very bright individual!
Great site! I am loving it!! Will come back again. I am bookmarking your feeds also
Do you have a spam issue on this site; I also am a blogger, and I was wondering your situation; many of us have created some nice practices and we are looking to trade methods with other folks, why not shoot me an e-mail if interested.
I enjoy the efforts you have put in this, thanks for all the great posts.
As a Newbie, I am always exploring online for articles that can help me. Thank you
You are my inspiration , I own few blogs and infrequently run out from to brand.
You got a very wonderful website, Sword lily I noticed it through yahoo.
I am forever thought about this, regards for posting.
Hello very cool site!! Guy .. Excellent .. Wonderful .. I’ll bookmark your web site and take the feeds also…I am glad to seek out so many useful info right here within the put up, we’d like develop extra techniques on this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .
Simply want to say your article is as astonishing. The clarity in your post is just great and i can assume you’re an expert on this subject. Well with your permission let me to grab your feed to keep up to date with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please carry on the rewarding work.
I really like your writing style, great info , thankyou for posting : D.
obviously like your web-site but you need to test the spelling on several of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling issues and I in finding it very bothersome to tell the truth however I will surely come again again.
Undeniably consider that which you said. Your favorite reason seemed to be at the internet the simplest factor to take into account of. I say to you, I definitely get annoyed whilst other folks consider issues that they just don’t know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the highest and defined out the entire thing without having side effect , other folks can take a signal. Will likely be again to get more. Thank you
I haven¦t checked in here for a while because I thought it was getting boring, but the last few posts are great quality so I guess I will add you back to my daily bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂