Our discussion last Friday on La Tondue was very interesting because it seemed to have very similar aspects to a backlash on French women that occurred in the last decade of the eighteenth century, and the backlash that occured directly following World War I (which we have discussed in class). In all of these, the general trend tends to be a reassertion of control over the female gender to keep women in the more traditional role within the private sphere (as opposed to the political sphere).
In the backlash of the eighteenth century, the role of women in French society had reached a very high point. Over the century upper class women hosted salons, and though they were not encouraged to speak or debate, they played the important role of inviting the intellectuals of the time, cultivating social connections between them, and guiding discussions if they appeared to not be going in the direction intended (which is arguably a huge role because the saloness could influence the outcome of discussion). Similarly, women of the lower classes began exercising political power during the Revolution by storming hte Bastille, organizing and participating in bread strikes, storming the palace and arresting the royal family, and forming influential political organizations (Society for Revolutionary Women). The role of women was incredibly modern, but after the assassination of Marat by Charlotte Corday and the execution of many women leaders during the Jacobin Terror, it seemed apparent that it would not last.
La Tondue can be viewed in very much the same way. These women were accused of involving themselves in the politcal sphere by aiding Nazis in the regime established in France, and were punished for it. In so doing, they broke their traditionally established role that remains outside the politics. But, by doing continuing similar activity with the Allied soldiers and incurring the same wrath, one gets the sense that France was at a failure to come to terms with not spearheading modernity. By the mid nineteenth century, France was no longer the intellectual capital of Europe, and they had now been defeated twice by Germany in a quarter of a century. It seems ironic that the French would resort back to traditional ideals instead of attempting to foster a more modern view.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I think its interesting to look at the fact that many times, a French man's attitude towards the changing face of French womanhood often masked his greater fears for the changing of French society as a whole.
ReplyDeleteAs we said in class, although men were taking away a woman's female characteristics, they were actually trying to force her back into her traditional role, where she was reliant on a French man rather than a German or American man. I think this reflects the desire of men to force France back into its traditional role of intellectual and military superiority. I also believe that women sleeping with or even corresponding with the enemy threatened the identity of French males who weren't just losing their women, they were losing their national identity.
I agree with what you're saying. The punishment directed toward women was merely a reassertion of power. Similar to the movement post-WWI, gender roles were being twisted, and men felt threatened as they returned home from battle. After WWII, when French women were being accused of associating with the German enemy, French men also felt threatened.
ReplyDeleteI think there are some good point brought up in this discussion. French women did seem to have been "rolled back" by the Fall out of 2 World Wars. This is for certain an issue of the need for French men to re-establish their societal dominance to some degree. I think another aspect of this is that French men suffered a great deal psychologically. The rite of passage into the role of a man that many societies espouse even to day is the image of a strong dominant figure for manhood. In defeat not once but twice by German military campaign the French had their very manhood and pride stripped from them. This coupled with the need to be saved by the allies added further insult to this injury. The anger and shame was directed at the only thing left that French men felt the could dominate. The French woman. It is sad situation for everyone involved.
ReplyDeleteYou make a great point in likening the desire to return women to traditional roles to earlier gender conflicts in France. In many ways, I think your comparison holds up. The question I would pose is this: Given that many of these women were guilty of "horizontal collaboration" rather than real political involvement or action, do you think their behavior posed the same threat to male dominance that political groups such as the Society for Revolutionary Women posed during the Revolution?
ReplyDelete