In Béziers, the duel of symbols for Women's Rights Day

In Béziers, we do not celebrate Women's Rights Day, but Women's Days. – Frédéric Faux

L'affiche biterroise est clairement inspirée de cette image de propagande américaine, pour célébrer les femmes travailleuses de la Seconde guerre mondiale, aujourd'hui utilisée par des collectifs féministes.

La mairie de Robert Menard, comme le groupe féministe des Rosies qui s’oppose à sa politique, s’inspirent de la même image.

When he discovers the promotional image for Women's Day, concocted by the town hall services, the Biterrois can be overcome with contrasting feelings. The style recalls the darkest hours – or red – of Soviet realism. The woman with glasses and a fierce look also recalls, imperceptibly, a right-wing minister whose appointment to the Attal government was rather controversial. But another impression, that of déjà vu, arrives immediately: because this image is an almost perfect avatar of Rosie the riveter, symbol of the six million women who worked in the American arms industry in the 1940s, who became a feminist icon with her biceps topped with the sloganWe can do it!.

The story is free of rights, but this appropriation is not to the taste of the Rosies, a left-wing feminist collective which for several years has been organizing happenings and dressing like the famous Rosie. "It's recovery, denounces Rosie Ferreira, a Rosie from Béziers. They do all fire, when we know very well, for example, what our MP Emmanuelle Ménard thinks of IVG" (she voted against the constitutionalization of this right, see our edition tomorrow). 

One thing is certain, this day of March 8, in Béziers, will be celebrated in dispersed order. An inter-union organization, accompanied by the Rosies, calls for a mobilization at 10:30 a.m. at the Labor Exchange. The town hall, for its part, chose for the first time to present a program spread over three days:  "With the massive rapes that were committed by the Russians in Ukraine, or Hamas in Israel, we wanted to give more scope to this day, assures David Carrette, communications director. We are very sensitive to these subjects as also shown by the twinning that we concluded with the kibbutz Nir Oz, which follows other twinnings with Maaloula in Syria, or Chortkiv in Ukraine."

Despite these noble considerations, municipal celebrations  – centered around shopping and the distribution of roses to women – remains marked by a vision that is at least 'traditional'. "When I want a bouquet of flowers, I buy one,  says Rosie Ferreira. And it's not forbidden, either, to give flowers to men." But this program does not surprise the activist, who also protests against the image of women reflected by the Journal du Biterrois, published by the agglomeration chaired by Robert Ménard : "I remember an image to promote commerce in the city center where we saw a naked woman from behind who said, " Honey, I have nothing left to wear, give me your credit card… That's where we are."

On the town hall side, in any case, we completely assume this iconography: « We have to see this a little in the spirit of Charlie Hebdo, assures David Carrette.We are not puritans, there is nothing serious… hellip; I would prefer that people were less shocked by these images than by rapes in countries at war. »

The town hall program

Friday March 8, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., in the city center: sale of Béziers francs to make purchases in shops, 40 €  = 50 Béziers francs. Large bazaar for artisans and traders, and sale of mystery packages at reduced prices. Musical stroll with the Jungle Cat group. Distribution of roses to women. At 3:30 p.m.: tribute to resistance fighter Juliette Cauquil, Place du 14-July. Instagram competition @lesvitrinesdebeziers.

Saturday March 9, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., downtown: sale of Béziers francs,  Grand bazaar, pop-up market, sale of mystery packages at reduced prices, Instagram competition @lesvitrinesdebeziers . From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. musical shows, wandering of Venetian costumes in the pedestrian streets.

Sunday March 10: 4th edition of the Women's Race in Montflourès. Children's race at 9:30 a.m., adult 6 km race at 10 a.m. 

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