When the world gets closer.

We help you see farther.

Sign up to our expressly international daily newsletter.

Already a subscriber? Log in.

You've reach your limit of free articles.

Get unlimited access to Worldcrunch

You can cancel anytime.

SUBSCRIBERS BENEFITS

Ad-free experience NEW

Exclusive international news coverage

Access to Worldcrunch archives

Monthly Access

30-day free trial, then $2.90 per month.

Annual Access BEST VALUE

$19.90 per year, save $14.90 compared to monthly billing.save $14.90.

Subscribe to Worldcrunch
LES ECHOS

Power And Language, Where Weinstein Meets French Grammar

The Mur de la Paix
The Mur de la Paix
Tori Otten

PARIS Le masculin l'emporte. In the French language, this is the idea that "the masculine form takes precedence" over the feminine form when matching an adjective or pronoun to a plural noun. If there is a group of women, adding just one man to the mix means that all words used to describe that group are accorded as masculine.

This has not always been the case. Until the 17th century, adjectives were matched to whichever noun was closest in the sentence structure, regardless of gender. But as the French High Council for Equality Between Men and Women (HCE) points out, in a piece by French daily Le Monde, language is always bound to be loaded. "It's precisely because language is political that the French language has for centuries been deliberately turned towards the masculine by groups who oppose gender equality," the HCE wrote in its 2015 guide to "communicating without gender stereotypes."

Now, there's a movement trying to unlock the masculine grip on French grammar. "L"écriture inclusive," or inclusive writing, has been around for over 20 years, but only gained traction recently as a new wave of feminism focuses on intersectionality and inclusivity. It's not about a radical overhaul of society, but instead achieving an equal balance of power and representation. With l"écriture inclusive, the way words are written allows for gender neutrality, or at least a better indication of the gender distribution in a group. So instead of calling a group of male and female lawyers "les avocats," you would write, "les avocat.e.s." The daily Libérationreports that the first school text books have been published that teach students these new writing rules.

The Académie Française — which was founded in 1635 with the purpose of preserving the French language — and other language purists have resisted the movement, arguing that it's awkward to write and confusing to read or say aloud, especially for small children just learning to read. "This "inclusive" aberration puts the French language in mortal danger, and for which our country is now accountable to future generations," the Académie said in a statement that spared nothing in some hyperbole à la française.

It's interesting to note that the latest battle over l"écriture inclusive has come in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, which set off a major reaction in France. The French version of #MeToo relies on some strong language of its own: #BalanceTonPorc ("Rat out your swine"). Rather than allowing their (usually more powerful) harassers to silence them, women are loudly and clearly exercising their right to be heard.

Le masculin l'emporte — masculinity takes over. How can a woman feel like she has a voice if she doesn't even have equal standing in her own language? Yes, the proposed changes are orthographically radical and frankly a bit strange-looking. But awkward transitions on the written page are well worth it for the clear message it sends out to the real world.

You've reached your limit of free articles.

To read the full story, start your free trial today.

Get unlimited access. Cancel anytime.

Exclusive coverage from the world's top sources, in English for the first time.

Insights from the widest range of perspectives, languages and countries.

Society

Shakira, Miley Cyrus And The Double Standards Of Infidelity

Society judges men and women very differently in situations of adultery and cheating, and in divorce settlements. It just takes some high-profile cases to make that clear.

Photo of Bizarrap and Shakira for their song “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53”
Mariana Rolandi

-Analysis-

BUENOS AIRES — When Shakira, the Colombian pop diva, divorced her soccer star husband Gerard Piqué in 2022, she wrote a song to overcome the hurt and humiliation of the separation from Piqué, who had been cheating on her.

The song, which was made in collaboration with Argentine DJ Bizarrap and broke streaming records, was a "healthy way of channeling my emotions," Shakira said. She has described it as a "hymn for many women."

A day after its launch, Miley Cyrus followed suit with her own song on her husband's suspected affairs. Celebrities and influencers must have taken note here in Argentina: Sofía Aldrey, a makeup artist, posted screenshots of messages her former boyfriend had sent other women while they were a couple.

Keep reading...Show less

You've reached your limit of free articles.

To read the full story, start your free trial today.

Get unlimited access. Cancel anytime.

Exclusive coverage from the world's top sources, in English for the first time.

Insights from the widest range of perspectives, languages and countries.

Already a subscriber? Log in.

You've reach your limit of free articles.

Get unlimited access to Worldcrunch

You can cancel anytime.

SUBSCRIBERS BENEFITS

Ad-free experience NEW

Exclusive international news coverage

Access to Worldcrunch archives

Monthly Access

30-day free trial, then $2.90 per month.

Annual Access BEST VALUE

$19.90 per year, save $14.90 compared to monthly billing.save $14.90.

Subscribe to Worldcrunch

The latest