In France, the fights to reach equality have been long, numerous and complex. Even if politics and mentalities tend to evolve, a lot of progress remains to be made. But when you look back, you can see the incredible fight that women have led for years to obtain the same rights as men … Back over several centuries of battles.
The real equality between men and women has not yet reached. When we see the path traveled in France since the Revolution, we see how long and winding the road was to get there. The slightest right, even those who seem natural and acquired today, must have been won by dint of political and social battles. Back on the main advances in favor of gender equality.
1791: Drafting of the “Declaration of the Rights of Women and Citizen”
The French Revolution has just ended, the company is still emotional. Olympe de Gouges takes the opportunity to make women exist in this new world which seems to be emerging. Feminist before the hour, the intellectual requests that women be recognized legally, politically and socially in his Declaration of women’s and citizen rights. It will be refused by the Convention.
1907: married women can receive their salary
First stone with the equality building in the couple (or at least at the end of man’s supremacy): a law ended up authorizing women to receive their salary, which hitherto returned to the husband.
1909: pregnant women are entitled to 8 -week maternity leave
The ENGERAND law allows pregnant women to be able to be absent without their use being called into question: “The suspension of women’s work, for eight consecutive weeks, in the preceding period and follows childbirth, cannot be a cause of rupture, by the employer, of the contract for the rental of services, barely damages for the benefit of women. This will have to warn the employer for the reason for his absence.“”
1924: Alignment of school programs
From the start of the college at the end of high school, the programs become the same for boys and girls. It is also the first year when the latter have access to the baccalaureate.
1938: Removal of the civil inability of women
It was not until 1938 that women no longer had the duty to obey men. The abolition of the Napoleon code allows them to go to college, to open a bank account, to have their own identity card … or to be hospitalized without being criticized for an abandonment of domicile. Freedom, in short.
1944: order granting the right to vote and eligibility for women
The battle is finally won: women have the right to vote and to be elected as men for a century.
1946: Equality enters the Constitution
The preamble to the Constitution of October 27, 1946 clearly stated it: “The law guarantees women, in all areas, of the rights equal to those of the human.” Gender equality is official.
1965: Women can work without asking their husbands their opinion
A new step towards real equality: on July 13, 1965, married women obtained the right to work without the agreement of their husband and to open a bank account just for them.
1967: contraception becomes legal
Women gain independence, but also on their (fundamental) right to dispose of their bodies. In 1967, the Neuwirtz law authorized them to use contraceptives to control pregnancies. Oral contraception becomes legal, but not yet refundable.
1970: almost total reimbursement of maternity leave
Maternity leave is now compensated 90% by maternity insurance + creation of parental education leave and abolition of the concept of “head of the family”. Parental authority replaces paternal power
1972: equality of remuneration between women and men
Equality wage is still far from being reached in 2017. However, its principle has been anchored in law for 45 years. In 1972, the labor code provides that “Any employer is required to ensure, for the same work or for a work of equal value, equal remuneration between men and women“.
1973: transmission of nationality
The mother can transmit her nationality to her legitimate or natural child.
1975: Veil law, divorce by mutual consent and school diversity
In 1975, Simone Veil allowed women to acquire the right to abortion. The same year, divorce by mutual consent rebalanced rights in marriage. For the youngest, school diversity becomes compulsory from kindergarten.
1981: sexual assault is defined by law
A year before, rape became a crime liable to 15 years in prison. In 1981, it was sexual assault that entered the penal code like “everything
1982: abortion is reimbursed by social security
Health insurance now covers all costs linked to a voluntary termination of pregnancy thanks to the Roudy law.
1983: parity, always more supervised by law
Yvette Roudy, Prime Minister of Women’s Rights, continues to get things done in 1983, she presented a law for professional parity to be respected. Companies with more than 50 employees must submit a report on the internal situation. The Higher Council for Professional Equality is created.
1990: Authorization of drug and rape between spouses
Abortion through mifepristone becomes possible at the hospital in 1990. Meanwhile, the Court of Cassation recognizes marital rape.
1992: sexual harassment at work becomes illegal
In 1992, a law condemned “the abuse of authority in sexual matters in labor relations”.
1993: Creation of the offense of obstacle to abortion
Abortion is protected by this new law, which stipulates that anyone trying to prevent an abortion by hampering access to a medical establishment or by threatening staff and/or pregnant women can be liable to 2 years in prison and a fine of 30,000 euros. It was extended to moral and psychological pressures on the Internet in 2017.
2000: Promulgation of the first law on political parity
To better respect parity, list elections must offer as many men’s candidates as women, with a fine to the key to political parties who would not respect equal representation in the legislative elections.
2001: abortion can be performed up to 12 weeks
The deadline to practice abortion goes from 10 to 12 weeks.
2002: a mother can give her names to her children
It was not until 2002 that the transmission of the mother’s name to offspring can be done officially. Parents can also choose to bequeath the two family names.
2010: the law supervises violence against women
2013: women can legally wear pants
It is not a joke: until 2013, an order prohibited women from disguising themselves and therefore to wear “male” clothes, such as pants. She is finally repealed by the Senate.
2014: The law of August 4, 2014 for real equality between women and men is promulgated
2016: The fight against prostitution is reinforced by law
Prostitled customers risk a fine of 1,500 euros, when the main concerned can no longer be stopped for the breaking offense.
2017: the penalization of the obstacle to voluntary pregnancy interruption
A new law punishes two years’ imprisonment and a fine of 30,000 euros of preventing or attempting to prevent practicing or inquiring on a voluntary termination of pregnancy by any means, including by electronic or online.
2018: the fight against sexual and sexist violence
The law includes four primordial points: the extent of the period of prescription for sexual crimes committed on minors at 30 years from the majority of the victim, the strengthening of the provisions of the Criminal Code to repress sexual offenses on minors, the creation of an offense of sexist outrage and the expansion of the definition of online harassment.
