Annie Ernaux, Nobel Prize for Literature 2022, criticizes an institution made “for men”

He says he doesn’t have it really no desire for distinction“, but we like the presence of this feminist UFO in this 121-year-old institution that is the Nobel Prize. As expected, Annie Ernaux will receive the Nobel Prize for literature in Stockholm on Saturday 10 December. While the 82-year-old writer has never doubted accepting this prestigious award, that doesn’t stop her from having a critical judgment on what surrounds her award. True to her feminist values, which have nourished her works for 40 years and which have earned her this great recognition today, she told AFP that the Nobel Prize was an institution ” for men“, and suggested some changes.

Power, splendor and tradition

” This manifests itself in this taste for tradition, in customs. It seems to me that the attachment to traditions is perhaps more masculine, after all we transmit power to each other in this way” said Annie Ernaux of the Nobel Prize. It must be said that since its creation in 1901, the winners of this award have been predominantly men. The author of the masterpiece Years (2008) is in fact only the 17th woman to receive a Nobel Prize, out of 838 people awarded in total.

In addition to the very patriarchal aspect of the Nobel, Annie Ernaux has also proposed to do a little less on the rhinestone and glitter side that accompanies the award ceremony. ” Can you imagine there being less glitz, less long gowns and tails?” , he suggested. Every year, in fact, the awards ceremony takes place at the Konserthuset, Stockholm’s concert hall, where around 1,300 people are invited. A large banquet is then organized at the Town Hall, at which it is needless to specify that more than correct clothing is required. Last year, despite the adjustments made to the reception due to Covid, the Swedish royal family was also present.

A sparkling speech?

Finally, there’s something even tastier than seeing Annie Ernaux receive the Nobel Prize for Literature, and this is her speech. ” Speech was still almost always monopolized by men and I have noticed that women are often less verbose than men, knowing full well that they are more practical” , noted the writer. And his? Microphone host of France Interon Friday, Oct. 7, he said he still had no idea what he would say during each winner’s traditional speech. ” But one thing I know, he added, is that, of course, it will be a talk, come on, committed.”

Front page photo credit: Annie Ernaux on the TV set of The big library © YouTube screenshot