Meet the Golden Women of the Olympic Opening Ceremony
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The Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony was breathtaking, with a multitude of memorable moments—from Lady Gaga in an explosion of pink plumes on the Île Saint-Louis … to the silver stallion defying gravity as it skimmed the surface of the Seine … to the dancers floating and bending atop towering poles on the Pont Neuf … to Céline Dion singing L’Hymn à l’Amour, while rain (and emotional tears) poured forth in the crowd.
Certainly in the top 10 of creative moments was the segment entitled “Sororité,” where 10 golden statues of illustrious French women rose dramatically — one by one — from the Seine. The scene was accompanied by Axelle Saint-Cirel singing La Marseillaise on the roof of the Grand Palais in a Dior-designed gown that paid tribute to the tri-colored French flag.
A Test of French Culture
Whether you saw that segment of the opening ceremony or not, take a moment now to name 10 iconic French women who have made an impact on the course of history. This exercise is a fun test of French culture and a window into France’s current focus on gender equality.
You might have thought of Joan of Arc or Marie Curie or activist Louise Michel (one of the few women who have had a metro station named after her). You might have conjured any one of the many women writers that have influenced French art and culture, such as Simone de Beauvoir, Françoise Sagan, or Colette. Or you might have identified those to whom the French have given high honors, such as stateswoman Simone Veil (one of only six women Panthéonized) and one of only 11 women immortals of the Académie Française.
The gilded 10 might surprise you. Some are well-known and some are perhaps intentionally less well-known (drawn from the 14th to the 21st century). All are trailblazers, and all rose to the challenges of the times, fighting for rights as women and as humanitarians.
The Honored Ten
The 10 honorees are on display at the Assemblée Nationale so visitors can admire the artistry of the sculptures in detail and learn more about these remarkable women. More than 12,000 people have already visited the Cour d’Honneur to pay tribute to the 4-meter high statues. Due to the popularity of this opportunity, the visiting hours have just been extended until December 22. Reservations are required, but the visit is free.
Next year, the golden women will move to a more permanent home. The elegant 3-D printed sculptures have been donated to the city of Paris and will ultimately reside in the 18th arrondissement near Porte de la Chapelle. The 10 women are a small step toward resolving the inequity in Paris statues. But the men still outnumber the women by about 5 to 1.
Introducing . . .
Jeanne Barret (1740–1807)
Jeanne Barret is best known for her maritime adventures, as an explorer and botanist—and as the first woman to circumnavigate the globe. Because women were prohibited on French navy ships at the time, she dressed as a man.
She supported botanists Commerson (her lover) and Bougainville in collecting and cataloging more than 6,000 plants around the world. Her adventurous spirit and contribution to science earned her a well-deserved place as one of the 10 golden women.
Simone de Beauvoir (1908–1986)
Simone de Beauvoir, as a well-known French feminist writer and activist, was perhaps one of the first to be thought of as one of the 10 women to be honored at the Olympics. She was a prolific and passionate writer — of novels, memoirs, biographies, autobiographies, and essays on existentialism, ethics, and feminist theory. Her book The Second Sex (1949) was pivotal in the women’s liberation movement of the 1960s and 70s.
She completed a degree in philosophy at the Sorbonne in 1928 (although she refused to identify herself as a philosopher) and taught high school (lycée) for more than 10 years, until she could support herself with her writing. After gaining fame for her work, she continued to lend her voice to political causes, including abortion rights, women’s equality, and struggles for independence in Algeria and Hungary.
Olympe de Gouges (1748–1793)
Olympe de Gouges was a prolific playwright, novelist, and political activist, best known for publishing The Declaration of the Rights of Women and of the [Female] Citizen in response to The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the [Male] Citizen, adopted by the Assemblée Nationale in 1789. She believed, of course, that women should have the same rights as men and also that children born outside of marriage should be treated as “legitimate” children, especially when dealing with inheritance. She spent her life advocating for injustices, including campaigning for the emancipation of slaves and the protection of orphans, the poor, and the aged.
She was dedicated to the right of free speech and its role in social and political change. Unfortunately, the consequence of her “free” speech was the guillotine. She was the only woman executed for her political writings during the Reign of Terror.
Alice Guy (1873–1968)
Alice Guy was the first and perhaps only woman film director in the world in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Even so, she has been overlooked in the history of film. She started out as a secretary for Gaumont motion pictures, but quickly followed a creative path and directed her first film in 1896.
She directed more than 1000 films, introduced the idea of the narrative fiction film, went on to direct several “big budget” films such as The Life of Christ (1906), and ultimately owned her own studio with her husband beginning in 1910. She directed, scouted locations, managed actors, and introduced animal performers into her films. Being honored as one of the 10 golden women has given her back her place in history as an early influence in the cinematic arts.
Gisèle Halimi (1927–2020)
Gisèle Halimi was a Tunisian/French lawyer, a member of the French National Assembly, and a French ambassador to UNESCO. She was a young feminist, rebelling against her family for archaic misogynistic practices and, later, focused on cases representing marginalized individuals, in particular seeking justice for women and victims of torture.
She defended (among others) activists for Algerian independence and women accused of illegal abortions, and she aided in the adoption of a law recognizing rape as a crime. She founded the feminist group Choisir (To Choose) in support of women’s rights to abortion, which led the way to the French law passed in 1974 legalizing abortion.
Louise Michel (1830–1905)
Louise Michel was a progressive teacher, radical anarchist, and courageous leader in the Paris Commune, a militant struggle against the French government beginning in 1870. In her memoirs, she noted she loved the smell of gunpowder and was devoted to revolution … to eliminate exploiters and free the exploited.
She was charged with trying to overthrow the government, imprisoned, and ultimately deported to New Caledonia (where she assisted the indigenous people), but she later returned to Europe. She remained committed to her ideals and was arrested several more times, in London and Paris. She continued teaching, founded the French anarchist magazine The Libertarian, wrote about social justice, and spoke to thousands on working-class and women’s rights until her death.
Alice Milliat (1884–1957)
A pioneer of women’s sports, Alice Milliat is best known for lobbying for women’s events in the Olympics. Progress was slow. Only tennis and golf were women’s events in the Olympics in 1900.
Alice founded the Fédération Sportive Féminine Internationale and introduced the Women’s World Games to protest the slow movement on the part of the IOC to include more women’s events.
A swimmer, ice-hockey player, and rower, she was instrumental in gaining international recognition for women’s sport in general and was key in getting the International Olympic Committee to add events throughout the years, resulting finally in the addition of five women’s track and field events in 1928 and full integration of all events in 1936.
Paulette Nardal (1896–1985)
Paulette Nardal was a teacher, activist, and writer/journalist from the Caribbean island of Martinique. She was the first Black person to study at the Sorbonne and went on to publish works exploring Black identity and culture and the challenges arising from racism and sexism.
She founded the journal La Femme dans la Cité to promote women’s ability to work within existing structures to effect change. Her work with the United Nations solidified her belief that women’s rights were of global importance.
Christine de Pizan (1364–1430)
Italian born Christine de Pizan was a court writer in medieval France. Famous as perhaps the first professional woman writer, she wrote novels, poetry, biographies, and political and philosophical analyses. She became a writer for many wealthy patrons and became skilled in the production of books.
An avid advocate for women’s education and rights, she is most known for two books about the importance of women’s contributions to society (sometimes called the first feminist literary works): The Book of the City of Ladies and The Treasure of the City of Ladies (published in 1405).
Simone Veil (1927–2017)
Concentration camp survivor Simone Veil was a prominent politician, serving many roles, including Secretary General of the Supreme Court, Minister for Health, and President of the European Parliament.
She was a champion of women’s rights, including legalized abortion and contraception access, and a force in European integration.
She was elected to the Académie Française as an “immortal” and was interred at the Panthéon in 2018 (one of only six women). Her tireless dedication to public service merits a place of honor in the exhibit.
DETAILS
Assemblée Nationale Cour d’Honneur, 126 rue de l’Université, 7th arrondissement. Reserve your time slot here.
Lead photo credit : © Meredith Mullins
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