FRENCH WOMEN EMANCIPATED
(N.Z. Press Assn. —Copyright;
PARIS, Feb. 2.
French women were emancipated today, United Press International reported.
The overdue emancipation came when a law reforming the Napoleonic marriage code became effective.
The law puts French wives on almost equal status with their husbands. Passed by Parliament last July, it gives a Frenchwoman
the right to open a bank account, start a business or dispose of her property without her husband’s consent, and buy on credit without her husband’s signature. It is the climax of a long struggle by French women to gain complete emancipation. The old code of 1804 put the French wife firmly under her husband’s thumb. She did not begin to merge from this domination until 1907, when she gained the right to spend her own salary as she chose. In 1938 came the first series of laws which gave women a few more minor freedoms
culminating in the right to vote in national elections in 1942. But the lack of essential freedoms—disposal of property and the right to be mistress of her own- finances—still tied the average wife to her husband as it had in Napoleon’s day.
The greatest difference between the women of 160 years ago and those of today was in the number who worked and earned their own keep. Today 6,500,000 women of all ages hold paid jobs in France and 40 per cent of these are married.
Now these married workers can direct their own affairs for the first time.
The new law gives them equal say in choosing their children's education, while the father is still responsible for providing clothing and nourishment for his family.
“Papa" now comes off by far the worst in the French family set-up. The new law emphasises his position as head of the family and having general responsibility for its welfare, but at the same time gives the mother an equal say in all matters of importance relating to family life.
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Press, Volume CV, Issue 30975, 3 February 1966, Page 13
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326FRENCH WOMEN EMANCIPATED Press, Volume CV, Issue 30975, 3 February 1966, Page 13
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