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The seductive Parisienne has become a symbol of national identity and inspired countless books - but some writers are speaking out against a harmful, exclusive myth
What comes to mind when you hear the word “Parisienne”? For most of us, the female in the French capital is, historically, a familiar figure: stylish, seductive and cultured, whiling away her days smoking cigarettes and drinking fine wine in cafes. She has been personified by a long list of women: Brigitte Bardot, Catherine Deneuve, Inès de la Fressange, Laetitia Casta. Much like the Eiffel Tower, the Parisienne has become a symbol of national identity – so much so that, since 1969, these same celebrities have even served as models for busts of Marianne, the personification of the French Republic that adorns town halls across the country.
The Parisienne (a term often applied to French women in general) is above all an object of global consumption: she has helped sell endless red lipsticks, striped T-shirts, perfumes, and even her home city, with foreigners falling in love with its postcard beauty and its flawless inhabitants. She has found her place on Instagram, in the form of influencers Jeanne Damas and Adenorah, who sell their own fashion and beauty brands directly to their followers. Women’s magazines around the world dedicate an endless stream of clickbait articles to “French secrets”, from The One Piece Every Chic French Girl Has in Her Winter Wardrobe, to Why French Women Don’t Contour. The former article proclaims: “It’s a widely accepted fact that French women all possess a seemingly universal birthright that includes the secret to slept-in hair, invisible makeup, and a no-fuss (if otherwise nonexistent) approach to fitness.” All women are apparently just one diet, dress or face cream away from resembling their French counterparts. Continue reading...