Although the French Republic advocates equality in its motto, it has long left women in a position of subordination to men. It is only very gradually and with results that are still incomplete that measures to ensure equality between men and women have been adopted.
1) It is interesting to realize the situation of women at the beginning of the 20th century :
- The situation of women before the First World War was hardly enviable. The only privilege to be born of the feminine gender was probably not to risk making war.
- In families, while the birth of boys was celebrated, the arrival of girls was a source of disappointment.
- No question for girls to study math or Latin.
- After primary school, the boys went to apprenticeship or education.
The girls were doing housework. The important thing was to train good housewives. Once married, the wife's role was to look after her husband so that he would stay healthy in order to be able to pay a salary back home.
- The Church also played a determining role in women's lives by making them feel guilty. They had to assume their duty as wife and mother.
- Of course, no question of having leisure considered as a waste of time. Knitting, embroidery and gardening were the only "profitable" distractions.
- The women surprised at the cafe or smoking were called "woman of bad life".
- Having no own income, the woman was entirely dependent. If the husband drank or did not pay, misery would come to the home.
2) Since the 1950s, the status of women has continued to evolve, both in the private domain (role in the family, contraception, etc.), as in the public domain (laws at work, politics, etc.).
1945 : - The notion of "female salary" is deleted. "For equal work, equal pay" is part of French law. Several laws recall this principle in 1972, 1983 and 2005, among others. - first female vote in municipal elections.
1946 : The principle of equal rights between men and women is laid down in the preamble to the constitution.
1949 : Simone de Beauvoir pleads in her book The Second Sexfor a woman's autonomy. Her book opens the field of a feminist philosophy.
1965 : - A woman may have a job without having to obtain her husband's authorization and freely dispose of her own property; matrimonial property reform.
1966 : The law prohibits the dismissal of a pregnant woman and during the 12 weeks following the birth.
1967 : December 28th. Contraception is authorized by the Neuwirth Act.
1970 : The law stipulates that from now on "the two spouses together assure the moral and material direction of the family": it is the end of the notion of "Head of family".
1974 : The pill is reimbursed by the Social Security. Minors can obtain it free of charge at the planning center.
1975 : January 17: promulgation of the law Veil authorizing the voluntary termination of pregnancy.
1980: Maternity leave is increased to 16 weeks minimum with full payment of salary. From the third child, the minimum maternity leave is 24 weeks.
1982 : Reimbursement of the voluntary termination of pregnancy by the Social Security.
1993 : The law of July 22 represses spousal violence. Worse penalties for spouses or cohabitants guilty of domestic violence.
2000 : Emergency Contraception Act: Overnight Pill in the Pharmacy, Free for Minors.
2006 : Unanimous vote of a law that raises the legal age of marriage for women at age 18 to fight against forced marriages.