Can women’s rights be read on their clothes? This exhibit illustrates

The history of the evolution of women’s rights is by no means linear, as Simone de Beauvoir rightly pointed out: Never forget that a political, economic or religious crisis is enough for women’s rights to be called into question. These rights are never acquired. You will have to remain vigilant throughout your life. And not surprisingly, we can glimpse some of this evolution of rights through women’s wardrobes over the decades, as illustrated in the exhibition “A photographic history of women in the 20th century”, from 26 January to 25 March 2023 at the Roger-Viollet gallery (6 Rue de Seine, 75006 Paris).

The free exhibition in Paris “A photographic history of women in the 20th century”

In fact, the Roger-Viollet Gallery exhibits a selection of 86 prints which implicitly retrace part of the evolution of women’s rights. We see them at the beginning of the century passing from their father’s arm to that of their husband. Otherwise they suffer the feast of St. Catherine on November 25 (the opportunity for women aged 25 or over who are still single to pray for a husband). In the images we can guess who are the richest due to their ornaments and their laziness, and the poorest due to their servitude work, on the farm or in the factory. We also see the suffragettes aiming to reclaim and obtain the right to vote. Then the sport opened up to women, first through swimming in the sea, but also on tennis courts.

Like an illustrated history lesson, from black and white to colours, from the status of eternal minor to that of emancipated woman, the exhibition allows us to retrace the feminist struggles. And remember how recent these rights are. Finally, for those interested who were unable to make the trip, the photographs can be found elsewhere in the book A photographic history of women in the 20th century published by Gründ editions.

Front page photo credit: War 1914-1918. “Experienced mechanics, women drive Canadian hospital cars”. Girls hired to transport Canadian Red Cross casualties. Paris, February 1917. Photo Excelsior. / Cover of the book: Report for the magazine Fémina. French Riviera, 1933-1935. PhotoBoris Lipnitzki. / Events of May-June 1968. A demonstrator waves a red flag during a CGT demonstration, place de la Bastille. Paris, May 29, 1968. Photo Janine Niepce.