Photography: looking4poetry
Today the Guardian reported that the French have said adieu to Mademoiselle, deeming it “an unnecessary and unjustified reference to women’s marital status” which “should be phased out from official forms.”
The decision follows a campaign by French feminist groups, including Osez le féminisme, whose anti-rape campaign I was involved with while living in Paris. As such, it’s a campaign I’ve been following with interest in French news and comment articles, as well as the Guardian’s coverage. A comment piece I read in Le Monde before Christmas discussed the equivalent titles used by France’s European neighbours and cited the use of “Ms” as a third option for English women. It struck me as interesting that, rather than fighting for a third option of their own, French feminists have fought to only have one. Like the men.
