Gender and French Identity after the Second World War, 1944–1954 : Engendering Frenchness

"The enfranchisement of women in Charles de Gaulle's France in 1944 is considered a potent element in the nation's self-crafted, triumphant World War Two narrative: the French, conquered by the Germans, valiantly resisted until they rescued themselves and built a new democracy, honoring France's longstanding liberal traditions. Kelly Ricciardi Colvin's Gender and French Identity after the Second World War, 1944-1954 calls that potent element into question. By analyzing a range of sources, including women's magazines, trials, memoirs, and spy novels, this book explores the ways in which culture was used to limit the power of the female vote. It exposes a wide network of constructed behavioral norms that supported a conservative vision of French identity. Taken together, they depicted men as virile Resistors for French democracy and history, and women as solely domestic support. Indeed Colvin shows that women's access to the vote emerged alongside an explosion of cultural messages that encouraged them to retreat into the home, to find mates, to have 'millions of beautiful babies', in the words of de Gaulle, and not to challenge patriarchy in any way. This is a vital study for understanding the nature of postwar France and women's history in 20th-century Europe."-- Provided by publisher Cover 1 Half-title 3 Title 5 Copyright 6 Contents 7 List of Illustrations 8 Acknowledgments 9 Introduction: France is Beginning Again 11 1. The Re-Victimization of France 19 2. Women as Victims 37 3. The War for Love 59 4. Looks 93 5. Disreputable Women 119 6. Women as Voters 163 7. Conclusion: Le déluge 181 Notes 187 Bibliography 235 Index 250 This book explores the ways in which culture was used to limit the power of the female vote. It exposes a wide network of constructed behavioral norms that supported a conservative vision of French identity. Men were seen as virile Resistors for French democracy and history and women as solely domestic support Introduction: France is beginning again -- The re-victimization of France -- Women as victims -- The war for love -- Looks -- Disreputable women -- Women as voters -- Conclusion: le deluge