"We assume that a stay-at-home mom may be better at home caring for her children." This little sentence of the deputy of the National Rally (RN) Jocelyn Dessigny provoked the anger of the hemicycle of the National Assembly, this Monday evening. Under the boos of his colleagues macronists and left, the elected representative of the Aisne then hastened to specify "if she wishes". "If she wishes, it is better for her to stay at home to take care of her children rather than you send her to a device where she will have to do fifteen hours of activity," he added.
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Jocelyn Dessigny's speech echoed one of the flagship measures of the "Full Employment" bill: the introduction of a minimum of activities for beneficiaries of the active solidarity income (RSA). As a reminder, the monthly amount of this aid for a single person without resources is 607.75 euros per month, 911.63 euros for a couple without children or 1276.29 euros for a couple with two children.
However, this controversy lifts the veil on the conditions of housewives, who represented 2.1 million French women in 2011. And begs the question: what salary would a housewife receive if she were paid?
Between three and four times the minimum wage
A study, conducted by ProntoPro (portal for connecting with professionals of services to the person) and relayed in 2019, suggests that if the work of stay-at-home mothers was paid, they should receive a monthly salary of 6400 euros, or between three and four times the RSA. This estimate takes into account all the activities they perform inside and outside the home. And spoiler alert: the schedule is busy.
Indeed, these housewives are both private drivers, accompanying children to school, swimming pool or dentistry (180 euros per day on average), but also home helpers (15 euros per hour on average) or teachers of private lessons (25 euros per hour on average). If all households used these different services, there is no doubt that this would represent a considerable budget.
'No stay-at-home injunction'
Many politicians have raised their voices to denounce the exit of Jocelyn Dessigny. "Daily example of the deception of a far-right party that claims to be 'feminist' because it presents a woman in the presidential election," Sacha Houlié, a member of parliament for the left wing of the majority, said in a tweet. The same goes for the Minister for Equality between Women and Men, Bérangère Couillard. She recalls: "In 2023, every woman is free to choose to devote herself to the education of her children. But a woman doesn't have to be ordered to stay home, thank you gentlemen." A firm message that has the merit of being clear.
