FEMINISM The Observatory of Sexist and Sexual Violence in Politics wants to ironically reward the politicians implicated, and especially their anti-feminist and misogynistic speeches
Alice Coffin, EELV adviser from Paris, and Raquel Garrido, then a lawyer and now an LFI deputy, at the demonstration for political #MeToo, November 25, 2021. (archives) — AFP
- One year after the #MeTooPolitique movement, the Observatory of gender-based and sexual violence in politics wants to mark the occasion with an award ceremony.
- The “It’s going to be fine” prizes want to reward – ironically – the men in question and especially their anti-feminist and misogynistic speeches.
- A way to take up the field of humor for feminists and to make fall from their pedestal politicians decidedly unimpressed by the accumulation of revelations.
Since the campaign for the legislative elections, and perhaps even more so since the start of the school year, the question of gender-based and sexual violence (SGBV) in politics is everywhere. And for good reason: sexist and sexual violence is everywhere, including in politics. However, a year after the launch of the #MeTooPolitique movement, nothing seems to be progressing. To “celebrate” this anniversary, the Observatory of sexist and sexual violence in politics, created he too a year ago is organizing an awards ceremony this Friday evening, the awards “””it’s going to be fine”. It will be broadcast live, at; from 8 p.m., on the site of La Déferlante, and will be accessible in sign language.
The sentence may remind you of the one uttered by Gérald Darmanin, a few months ago, in front of BFMTV journalist Apolline de Malherbe. It’s no coincidence. The idea? Reward – ironically, we will have understood – the politicians “who knew how to use imagination and creativity; to be able to get out of it, help others and restore with all their might the image of their virility; that one seeks unjustly to ”corner,”explains, smirking, the Observatory.
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Seven awards, 31 nominated
31 men from all parties are nominated in 7 categories. Among them, “All hysterics”, who “distinguishes the ordinary sexism of politicians, who have the courage not to give in to the parity, to discourses of equality.” Or “Little Angel Gone Too Soon”, which “singles out politicians whose talent has not been able to fully unfold due to neo-feminist cabals” . Or the “Best Hope”, which distinguishes the one who came out of it the best” Alice Coffin, EELV adviser in Paris and member of the Observatory of VSS in politics, has a particular fondness for the “Godfather” which illustrates well, according to her, “the side of system of the problem. Rapes, assaults… All of this could not prosper if there were no protectors.” The categories are less focused on the acts than on the system of protection of the defendants.
“It’s going to be fine,” it’s also an opportunity, according to Mathilde Viot, former parliamentary collaborator and member of the Observatory, to look back on “a year ;e where it happened many things” on the SGBV front in politics. Lots of things “that we want to give to see”. The prizes are inspired in particular by the “Y’a bon awards” also ironically, the racist remarks of media or political personalities. Another inspiration: the actions of the feminist group “La Barbe” we already found Alice Coffin, who came to “congratulate” events where there were only men on the program. The chosen tone – humor and irony – may nevertheless be surprising given the seriousness of the topic.
“Feminist irony is never far from anger”
“We all had a thought about it; this subject, says Alice Coffin. It will not be a buffoonery, the approach is first and foremost journalistic: we only talk about what is documented, sourced, made public.” And the victims will always be at the center of the discourse, assures Mathilde Viot, claiming the choice to invest in an often denied field. to feminists. “Feminist irony is never very far from anger, described the councilor from Paris. Making fun of contributes to the strategy of courage.” In order to sting politicians “always very sure of their skills, very serious, and who are not used to being challenged. They must then very often produce humor in bad taste about women,” describes Mathilde Viot.
This chosen tone also says all the difficulty; feminists, who must find treasures of ingenuity, to alert public opinion to GBV, especially in politics. “You always have to come as a surprise so that people are interested in the subject,” believes Mathilde Viot. For Alice Coffin, it’s yet another way of establishing a balance of power: “Despite; the accumulation of journalistic investigations, the scale of the demonstrations, nothing is moving. That’s still not impressive enough, in the literal sense of the word, for politicians.” It is therefore a question of defying the Boys Club of politicians on their land, under the golds of the Republic. The organizers have thus expressly sought to that the evening takes place in an official place. In this case a town hall, that of the 12th arrondissement of Paris.
A risk to brave
Despite the shifted tone; from the evening to come, the organizers claim to have had no trouble convince the participants. “”It even surprised us!”, admits Mathilde Viot. H&lène Devinck, screenwriter, one of those who testified in the Patrick Poivre d’Arvor case, journalists Dolores Bakela and Enora Malagré, actress Corinne Masiero will be present to present the prizes.
More surprising: the Observatory of gender-based and sexual violence in politics has succeeded in convince the Belgian Secretary of State to Equality chance, Sarah Schlitz, to come and present an award. The evening will be presented in particular by Audrey Pulvar, Councilor of Paris. They all take quite a bit. risk. “We know what is going to happen to us, and there is already a problem. retaliatory measures, says Alice Coffin. But thatçs why it’s important to have elected women on stage, to tell politicians that we are not afraid. That there are women who can come and brave them, for all those who cannot speak.” The sisterhood in action, in short.