PARIS OLYMPICS: MONUMENTAL TRIBUTE TO WOMEN OF FRANCE
“Never put an age limit on your dreams.” Dara Torres
In August, Paris hosted the 2024 Olympics amidst a world bridled with fury. Yet despite the turmoil, Paris took the highroad and welcomed its many guests with open arms. From the moment the Olympics began, Paris dazzled us with its glamor, sophistication and beauty. The city of lights continued to wow us with its dedication to sportsmanship.
Then there was the way the Parisians showcased equality; between nations, gender, race and disability. The opening session, unlike any I’ve ever seen before, wasn’t contained to one space but highlighted the entire city; all of its splendor in full display for the word to see: the Seine, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triumph and Sacre Coeur, my favorite. But when the ten golden statues of French women suddenly emerged from the Seine as if they were sent from the God of the Water, my jaw dropped. I shouldn’t have been surprised by the show stopping; I’d been enthralled by Paris before. When I was 17 I declared that France was the man for me. Yes, as a teen I was still brain-washed by the patriarchy to believe that my Happily Ever After involved a man. Now as an adult woman who is part of the matriarchy, I know I’m the one responsible for my own happiness. So when I watched the statues rise up from the river, I was spellbound by the brilliance of these golden women. Who were they and what had they done to deserve such a grand entrance?
“It’s about damn time.” Lizzo
I’ve been saying for a while now that statues of men outnumber statues of women by 8:1, and now France, in one swoop, has decreased the margin, if only by a small percentage. But it’s a start. I hope other countries are awakened by this display of feminism and take their lead and erect more monuments of the matriarchy. The Paris Olympics was also the first to have reached gender equality. There was a 50:50 ratio between male and female participants. I can only imagine what our landscape would look like if the ratio between statues of men and statues of women had the same numeric equivalency.
Let’s meet these ten remarkable women and learn about their bravery, integrity and brilliance.
- Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986). Simone was a philosopher and writer who authored “The Second Sex;” still considered to be “the best in feminist literature.” It should be mandatory reading material for all women.
- Simone Veil (1927-2017). Holocaust survivor, politician and human rights advocate, Simone was instrumental in legalizing abortion in France, known as the Veil Law.
- Olympe de Gouges (1748-1793). Feminist and women rights advocate before it was fashionable, Olympe designed the “Declaration of the Rights of Women and the Female.”
- Alice Millet (1884-1957). Alice was a sports enthusiast who paved the way for women in sports, advocated for equality by creating the Women’s World Games.
- Gisele Halim (1927-2020). Modern day lawyer who fought for gender equality and reproductive freedom.
- Jeanne Barret (1740-1807). Leader in aviation, she was often called the French Amelia Erhardt. Jeanne was the first woman to circumnavigate the globe
- Christine de Piza (1364-1430). Pioneering advocate for intellectual equality between men and women; poet, author, she was part of the heritage of French strong women
- Alice Guy (1873-1968). Feminist pioneer in the movie industry; she trailblazed the cinema for women’s equality
- Louise Michel (1830-1905). Considered to be part of the Paris Commune, she was seen as an anarchist, revolutionary and radical activist (was it because she spoke her mind about injustice, inequality and civil rights?)
- Paulette Nardal (1896-1985). Civil rights advocate and writer who helped the Negritude movement to promote racial equality and the black identity.
The ten statues that rose from the Seine will remain in Paris so everyone who visits can honor these amazing women and their incredible accomplishments.
The ten women (see above) were born between 1364-1927 and died between 1430-2020. Seven hundred years of hard work; century after century, and we’re just memorializing them now. What’s that about? We need to do better. Let’s stop burying greatness and erasing women from the history books. Just as Paris has done, we must place monuments of the matriarchy front and center.
Women Rock! It’s about damn time the word realizes the contribution women have made to humanity, civil rights, intellectual equality, racial equality, and gender rights. How brave these women have been as they slayed the injustice of an unequal world.
Let’s make damn sure we keep their heads above water. Monuments of the matriarch belong on terrra firma for all the world to celebrate.