On October 22, “Sensitive Affairs” looks back at a Women’s Year that is now somewhat forgotten. In June 1975, to relaunch it after a rather laborious implementation, Françoise Giroud presented “One Hundred Measures for Women”. The government is reluctant, the feminists are not convinced…
In June 1975, when the world conference in Mexico dedicated to the status of women ended, the International Women’s Year was already half over. Françoise Giroud, who is responsible for its organization in France, planned to rely on international agreements to initiate a series of reforms upon her return. But the division between the countries of the South and those of the North caused this project to fail… To relaunch, in France, a Women’s Year that was not always well received, the Secretary of State for the Status of Women will concoct “One Hundred Measures for women” which will be presented to the Council of Ministers.
These measures, which she describes as “an attempt to eliminate all discrimination that exists between women and men”she wants them to be practical, pragmatic, far removed from the ideological quarrels which, according to her, undermined the Mexico summit. “She takes the journey of a woman from birth to old age, and at each age of life, it proposes a certain number of measures”, explains Sandrine Dauphin, political scientist at the CNRS.
“It seems like small things now, but at the time, it was a mental revolution for everyone to say that we have to be concerned about the status of women in particular.”
Sylvie Pierre-Brossolette, advisor to Françoise Giroud at the State Secretariatin “Sensitive matters”
Many of them concern what we would call today “reconciliation of professional and family life”, such as the establishment of canteens in nursery schools. Many relate to tax or material status: “Being able to apply for loans, have access to family allowances without your husband’s consent, co-sign the tax form… Nobody had thought of it, underlines Sylvie Pierre-Brossolette. The man was the only one to sign the household tax form…”
The adoption of these measures will not be an easy task in a very predominantly male Council of Ministers… where what she calls “the Pasqua spirit. Charles Pasqua, he said ‘Women are made to stand at meals and serve men… behind the men.’ It was unimaginable, what we could hear at the time.” But the program defended by Françoise Giroud also comes up against criticism from feminists, who consider it far too timid.
“The reforms weren’t going to change much, because it was a way of improving the oppression of women. We’re building a bit of a cozy little nest for something that needs to be completely changed… “
Marie-Jo Bonnet, historian and MLF activistin “Sensitive matters”
The “Hundred Measures for Women” were finally adopted the following year, in 1976. Nearly fifty years later, some are still not implemented… “Equal pay, in particular, remains a subject that is raised but has not been resolved,” recalls journalist Arlette Chabot. As for the public service for early childhood intended to partially relieve mothers of the care of young children, it is still not guaranteed… “So these are huge social problems, raised by Françoise Giroud, which have not yet been resolved. But she put her finger on it,” concludes Sylvie Pierre-Brossolette.
Excerpt from “1975, the year of the woman”, a document to be seen on October 22, 2023 in “Affaires Sensitives”, a France Télévisions, France TV presse, France Inter and INA co-production, adapted from a French broadcast Inter.
> Replays of France Télévisions news magazines are available on the Franceinfo website and its mobile application ( iOS & Android), section ” Magazines.”