GENDER STEREOTYPE AND WOMEN SUPPRESSION1
France had turned out to be a hot bed of debates, discussions, opinions and counter
opinions over the question of choosing between the values that form the basis of the constitution
of the Republic of France. The first country in the continent of Europe had attracted both
supporters and opposers when the highest judicial body of the country had declared that wearing
of the Islamic headscarf at any public place is a matter of violation of the constitutional principle
of secularism that is fundamental and inextricably linked to all the values of the Republic. Any
citizen or person found donning that at public places could incur a fine and a course on
citizenship. One section of the society opposed the decision citing it as an unjustified
infringement on the liberty of women. While another section of the society had welcome the
decision and considered it as an important move to instill the core values of the country, and save
the women from being suppressed under the garb of religion and traditions (Amthor, 2015).
Marie Le Pen, the presidential candidate representing the far right coalition in France had
commented on the issue of women wearing burkinis instead of bikinis that the beaches of the
country were meant for the likes of actress Brigitte Bardot and film director Robert Vadim, and
not for those who resembled the likes of Belphegor. The duo consisting of the actress and the
Director mentioned herein had shot quite a number of erotic films on the beaches that lied to the
South of France. While Belphegor was a ghost who wore a black garment similar to the Islamic
abaya, and was infamous for haunting the Louvre Museum situated at the heart of the city of
Paris. The image that has been attached underneath is that of Brigitte Bardot, making her
appearance for the first time at the Cannes Film Festival, in the year 1953 (Amthor, 2015). When
the controversy over banning the hijab, niqab, burqa and the burkini in France had occupied the
political centre stage, her image was cited as an argument to support the decision by the Sarkozy
Government. Besides upholding the deep rooted principle of French Secularism, a legacy of the

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WGST 100 - Introduction to Women's Studies

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