French Parliament Observes “Cat Call & Wolf Whistle” Tuesdays
Are women now confined to drab, dark pants suits, a slicked back bun and minimal make up to be taken seriously in politics? In France, the answer is unfortunately a resounding yes.
Recently, Cecile Duflot, French Housing Minister, who donned a conservative, long-sleeved, knee-length floral summer dress to speak before the assembly, was heckled with whistles and wolf howls. Duflot addressed the uncalled for sexism at the onset of her speech saying, “Ladies and gentlemen, obviously, more gentlemen than ladies…” Duflot attempted to continue her speech regarding a new metropolitan plan for the Paris region, but leering and shouting overshadowed her political message.
The men of the assembly are attempting to excuse their actions by saying the cat-calls were out of admiration. Conservative MP Patrick Balkany said, “We weren’t heckling or whistling Cecile Duflot, we were admiring her. If she didn’t want us to take an interest in her, then she shouldn’t have changed her look.” Foot already in mouth, Balkany continued, saying, “she put on that dress so that we wouldn’t listen to what she was saying.”
Inexcusable and blatant acts of sexism have become a disgusting norm in French politics as far back as the 1970s when then cabinet advisor Michèle Alliot-Marie appeared at the assembly in trousers and was apprehended by the guard at the door. Last year, Chantal Jouanno, the French sports minister said she could not enter parliament in a skirt without being cat-called and MP Sandrine Mazetier, once wore turned tight-fitting clothes to a parliamentary commission and was verbally harassed by a male MP, who said: “Dressed like that, don’t be surprised if you get raped.”
This should serve as a reminder to all of us to remain vigilant about sexism in the media. Even seemingly small things like misplaced remarks about hairstyle, using terms of endearment like “darling” and “Top 10” lists ranking a woman’s attractiveness can produce a slippery slope of sexism if gone unchecked.
So, call it out when you see it and let’s leave the howling to the wolves.
Published by Kate McCarthy on 07/20/2012