Segolene Royal: Female politicians, male journalists and the art of simile
October 23rd, 2006
The UK Financial Times has recently published a profile of Ségolène Royal, aspiring Socialist candidate for France’s presidential elections next year.
The article concentrated on the fact that Royal is a woman. This is, perhaps, fair enough - France is yet to have a female President, and France’s first female Prime Minister (Édith Cresson) lasted less than a year. But I was struck by the surprising range of imagery deployed by the journalist - John Thurnhill, the Editor of the FT’s Europe edition (someone I’d expect to represent a pretty mainstream voice in the world of European economic commentary).
Since when is it appropriate and/or accurate to describe, in a respectable publication, a female politician as, variously, a china vase, a queen bee, an agony aunt and a dressage pony?
Consider me outraged:
“I wondered whether Royal was just an elegant vase in which voters were busily arranging the flowers of their dreams”
“As she draped herself across a front-row seat, the photographers swarmed around the queen bee of the Socialist party”
“She does not project the image of a monarchical president so much as that of a sympathetic political agony aunt.”
“It is dusk as she leaves the hall, trotting like a dressage pony, head erect, shoulders back.”
You can read the full text of the article here: FT.com/Arts & weekend
10 Responses to “Segolene Royal: Female politicians, male journalists and the art of simile”
Leave a Reply
Segolene Royal: Female politicians, male journalists and the art of simile
October 23rd, 2006
The UK Financial Times has recently published a profile of Ségolène Royal, aspiring Socialist candidate for France’s presidential elections next year.
The article concentrated on the fact that Royal is a woman. This is, perhaps, fair enough - France is yet to have a female President, and France’s first female Prime Minister (Édith Cresson) lasted less than a year. But I was struck by the surprising range of imagery deployed by the journalist - John Thurnhill, the Editor of the FT’s Europe edition (someone I’d expect to represent a pretty mainstream voice in the world of European economic commentary).
Since when is it appropriate and/or accurate to describe, in a respectable publication, a female politician as, variously, a china vase, a queen bee, an agony aunt and a dressage pony?
Consider me outraged:
“I wondered whether Royal was just an elegant vase in which voters were busily arranging the flowers of their dreams”
“As she draped herself across a front-row seat, the photographers swarmed around the queen bee of the Socialist party”
“She does not project the image of a monarchical president so much as that of a sympathetic political agony aunt.”
“It is dusk as she leaves the hall, trotting like a dressage pony, head erect, shoulders back.”
You can read the full text of the article here: FT.com/Arts & weekend
10 Responses to “Segolene Royal: Female politicians, male journalists and the art of simile”
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petitpoussin Says:
October 25th, 2006 at 12:22 amI think they forgot ‘cat lady’.
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natasha Says:
October 25th, 2006 at 1:04 amMy suspicion is that he found her attractive.
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petitpoussin Says:
October 25th, 2006 at 1:45 amDoes that mean ‘agony aunt’ is a compliment now?! What about ’spinster’?
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Kim Says:
October 25th, 2006 at 3:44 amDo you think that one reason a woman potentially holds such a high position in French politics is related to the fact that French public policy is so favorable towards women and working moms (e.g., subsidized day care)? Or perhaps it’s the other way around and because women in France hold high political positions there is pro-woman public policy? I wonder which comes first.
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natasha Says:
October 25th, 2006 at 12:44 pmhey Petitpoussin,
I think he said agony aunt because he felt excluded by her strong connection to socialist women at one of the rallies; he observed her “oozing evident sympathy” for one woman’s plight “in a way that no male candidate could ever emulate”. I think he was impressed but at the same time he wanted to undermine the authority of her capacity to understand and communicate with strangers - hence ‘agony aunt’. I think sometimes journalists think less about being accurate with the truth and more about fraternizing with their readership; entertaining their prejudices, drawing them into the writer’ confidence. Here he’s playing into all the stereotypes his readers have at the forefront of their minds; he’s siding with them at her expense. Some men find women mystifying.[p.s. I’ve just had 2 cups of piping hot oolong. Mmmmmm]
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natasha Says:
October 25th, 2006 at 12:57 pmHey Kim -
I think that Royal’s position is the fruit of France’s fierce meritocracy and their particular gender culture. I do not think she would be in this position if she was not so beautiful, for example, or so clever.
In France there’s such a strong tradition of women being seen as radically different from men; they are beautiful, they are mysterious, they are elegant. I can’t imagine that the French would support a different kind of woman - for example like Angela Merkel.
Is it true that France’s public policy is more favourable of working mums than elsewhere? It would be fascinating to know. But I almost wonder whether in fact it’s more important that the French have this brand of Intellectual, Elegant, Working Woman, which Royal can fit into. In England, for example, women who are clever and powerful we readily see as un-motherly, cold-hearted iron-ladies; Margaret Thatcher didn’t exactly help. -
petitpoussin Says:
October 25th, 2006 at 6:11 pmN - point taken, but ‘agony aunt’ strikes quite a different tone than, say, ‘dressage pony’. But I suppose the journalist is allowed inconsistency, seeing as he’s describing the dark continent and all.
[I’m in a Picard kind of mood today: Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.]
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natasha Says:
October 25th, 2006 at 11:43 pmZactly!
I s’pose he was going through the whole range of unfavourable female stereotypes - and ‘cat girl’ would’ve got in if he’d only had another 500 words! -
natasha Says:
October 27th, 2006 at 12:32 amI meant “cat lady”. And I hadn’t realised Jean Luc was an EG kinda guy - but they call me an EG kinda girl.
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klen Says:
December 6th, 2006 at 11:53 pmthere is certainly something in what natasha wrote. she is beautiful and she is smart, but that is not enough. she must be very beautiful and very smart to be where is today.
October 25th, 2006 at 12:22 am
I think they forgot ‘cat lady’.
October 25th, 2006 at 1:04 am
My suspicion is that he found her attractive.
October 25th, 2006 at 1:45 am
Does that mean ‘agony aunt’ is a compliment now?! What about ’spinster’?
October 25th, 2006 at 3:44 am
Do you think that one reason a woman potentially holds such a high position in French politics is related to the fact that French public policy is so favorable towards women and working moms (e.g., subsidized day care)? Or perhaps it’s the other way around and because women in France hold high political positions there is pro-woman public policy? I wonder which comes first.
October 25th, 2006 at 12:44 pm
hey Petitpoussin,
I think he said agony aunt because he felt excluded by her strong connection to socialist women at one of the rallies; he observed her “oozing evident sympathy” for one woman’s plight “in a way that no male candidate could ever emulate”. I think he was impressed but at the same time he wanted to undermine the authority of her capacity to understand and communicate with strangers - hence ‘agony aunt’. I think sometimes journalists think less about being accurate with the truth and more about fraternizing with their readership; entertaining their prejudices, drawing them into the writer’ confidence. Here he’s playing into all the stereotypes his readers have at the forefront of their minds; he’s siding with them at her expense. Some men find women mystifying.
[p.s. I’ve just had 2 cups of piping hot oolong. Mmmmmm]
October 25th, 2006 at 12:57 pm
Hey Kim -
I think that Royal’s position is the fruit of France’s fierce meritocracy and their particular gender culture. I do not think she would be in this position if she was not so beautiful, for example, or so clever.
In France there’s such a strong tradition of women being seen as radically different from men; they are beautiful, they are mysterious, they are elegant. I can’t imagine that the French would support a different kind of woman - for example like Angela Merkel.
Is it true that France’s public policy is more favourable of working mums than elsewhere? It would be fascinating to know. But I almost wonder whether in fact it’s more important that the French have this brand of Intellectual, Elegant, Working Woman, which Royal can fit into. In England, for example, women who are clever and powerful we readily see as un-motherly, cold-hearted iron-ladies; Margaret Thatcher didn’t exactly help.
October 25th, 2006 at 6:11 pm
N - point taken, but ‘agony aunt’ strikes quite a different tone than, say, ‘dressage pony’. But I suppose the journalist is allowed inconsistency, seeing as he’s describing the dark continent and all.
[I’m in a Picard kind of mood today: Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.]
October 25th, 2006 at 11:43 pm
Zactly!
I s’pose he was going through the whole range of unfavourable female stereotypes - and ‘cat girl’ would’ve got in if he’d only had another 500 words!
October 27th, 2006 at 12:32 am
I meant “cat lady”. And I hadn’t realised Jean Luc was an EG kinda guy - but they call me an EG kinda girl.
December 6th, 2006 at 11:53 pm
there is certainly something in what natasha wrote. she is beautiful and she is smart, but that is not enough. she must be very beautiful and very smart to be where is today.