Women’s Day France
Women’s Right to Vote in France
April 21, (1944)

Number of female heads of state to date: 1

Women’s Right to Vote in France

Gouvernement.fr

Women’s right to vote
En 1944, l’obtention du droit de vote des femmes est presque une formalité

À l’occasion de l’anniversaire du droit de vote des femmes, Anne-Sarah Bouglé-Moalic, docteure en histoire de l’université de Caen-Normandie, revient sur ce combat suffragiste, long de cent ans.
› gouvernement.fr/actualite/en-1944-lobtention-du-droit-de-vote-des-femmes-est-presque-une-formalite

The women’s right to vote in France has a significant and eventful history that played a crucial role in the country’s journey towards gender equality and democracy.

The struggle for women’s suffrage in France began in the 19th century. Throughout the 1800s, women’s rights activists and suffragettes advocated for political rights and equal representation.

It wasn’t until after World War I, in 1944, that women in France finally gained the right to vote. The Provisional Government, established during the liberation of France, extended suffrage to women through an ordinance in April 1944. This marked a monumental milestone in French history, granting women the same political rights as men.

With the right to vote, French women actively participated in the democratic process and made significant contributions to shaping the country’s political landscape. They joined political parties, campaigned for their causes, and worked towards gender equality and social progress.

Efforts have been made in France to promote gender equality and increase women’s representation in politics. Gender quotas were introduced in the 1990s to ensure a more balanced representation of women in political parties and elected positions. These measures have helped to increase the number of women in French politics, although more progress is still needed to achieve full gender parity.

Today, women in France actively participate in politics at various levels, including the national parliament, local councils, and the European Parliament. France has had female government ministers, members of parliament, and even a female president, highlighting the significant contributions of women in French politics.

While progress has been made, challenges remain in achieving complete gender equality in politics. Women’s representation in some areas, particularly in leadership positions, is still relatively low. Ongoing efforts are necessary to dismantle barriers, promote women’s political participation, and create a more inclusive political environment.

The women’s right to vote in France represents a significant achievement in the country’s democratic development and reflects the recognition of women as equal citizens. It underscores the importance of women’s active participation in the political process and the ongoing work towards achieving gender equality in French politics and society as a whole.

Composition of the Government in France, 2017

Of the 18 ministers, nine are women and nine are men, a reflection of Macron’s campaign promise of gender parity. Sylvie Goulard, a centrist EU lawmaker, was named defence minister.
The cabinet nominations come two days after Macron named a centre-right parliamentarian, Le Havre mayor Edouard Philippe, as his prime minister.
gouvernement.fr/composition-of-the-government


The history of women’s rights in France

Women’s rights did not really start to evolve in France until a few decades ago.
This chronological frieze takes up the major stages of the emancipation of the woman since the French Revolution to the present day.
› education.francetv.fr/l-histoire-des-droits-de-la-femme


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