Legendary French actress Catherine Deneuve and over 100 other prominent French women have today written a poignant editorial in Le Monde, warning of a new era of “puritanism” in the wake of the current wave of sexual harassment charges against women. It should force all of us serious thinkers to reexamine the current very valid wave of outrage against sexual harassment and as well, the dangers of excess that hark back to other periods of ugly history. A link to the Le Monde editorial is included here for those who read French or wish to translate the editorial in their browsers. The letter begins by declaring that violence of any kind against women is utterly unacceptable, but makes its point that we are in danger in this era of Trumpism of going into extremism in the name of virtue.
The open letter to Le Monde will undoubtedly spark denunciation by feminists, as has happened in the earlier criticism of women writers like Christina Hoff Sommers, who spoke out about the false claims regarding domestic violence on Super Bowl Sunday. The letter raises questions about truth and freedom of speech, especially among women themselves. It will hopefully ignite a monumental ethical and philosophical debate like nothing since Germain Greer debated William F. Buckley at Cambridge.
Read more In Le Monde (French language) : French Women Decry New Era of Puritanism
Source: Catherine Deneuve defends men’s ‘right’ to hit on women – BBC News
Catherine Deneuve defends men’s ‘right’ to hit on women
French actress Catherine Deneuve has said that men should be “free to hit on” women.
She is one of 100 well-known French women who wrote an open letter, warning about a new “puritanism” sparked by recent sexual harassment scandals.
The letter deplores a wave of “denunciations” after claims that US movie mogul Harvey Weinstein has raped or sexually assaulted dozens of women.
Mr Weinstein has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex.
However, he has admitted that his behaviour has “caused a lot of pain”.
What does the open letter say?
The letter by French women writers, performers and academics was published in France’s Le Monde newspaper on Tuesday.
“Men have been punished summarily, forced out of their jobs when all they did was touch someone’s knee or try to steal a kiss,” it said.
“Rape is a crime, but trying to seduce someone, even persistently or clumsily, is not – and nor is men being gentlemanly a chauvinist attack.”
The authors argued that there was a new “puritanism” afoot in the world.
They said that while it was legitimate and necessary to speak out against the abuse of power by some men, the constant denunciations have spiralled out of control.
According to the writers, this is creating a public mood in which women are seen as powerless, as perpetual victims.
“As women we do not recognise ourselves in this feminism, which beyond denouncing the abuse of power, takes on a hatred of men and of sexuality.”
Ms Deneuve, 74, has recently spoken openly against social media campaigns, which, she says, shame men accused of harassing women.
Women and men from all over the globe who have been sexually harassed have been sharing their stories across social media using the hashtag #MeToo.
In France, Twitter users are using #Balancetonporc (“rat on your dirty old man”) to encourage women to name and shame their attackers.
Ms Deneuve, an Oscar-nominated actress, has been in more than 100 films, making her debut in 1957.
