She arrives with a small notebook and a copy of the book
White Torture
- a term designating a sentence of total isolation inflicted on Iranian activists and political prisoners.
The tone is set.
On this Friday, March 8, International Women's Rights Day, Anne Berest is deeply invested in the idea of discussing advances in feminism, but also the fate of those who suffer in France and throughout the world and the question of the transmission.
So many themes dear to the heart of the woman who has, on numerous occasions, highlighted women.
To discover
Business masterclass: on March 8, treat yourself to some time for yourself
Author of the theatrical monologue
La Visite -
the story of a young mother who receives a lot of people even though she has just had a baby - Anne Berest questions motherhood in this play.
The novelist also published
Search for a Perfect Woman
, a work in which she discusses the injunctions to perfection weighing on women.
Member of the 50/50 collective, which promotes parity in the world of cinema, the writer speaks on this symbolic day about their condition, with his gaze resolutely turned towards the future.
Also read: Anne Berest: “Maternity is a question that concerns me a lot”
Return of the pendulum
What value does Women's Rights Day have today?
Obviously, every day should be “women’s rights day”… But the advantage of a day like this is to take the time to ask yourself: “Okay, what is What still remains to be done?”
Unfortunately, I do not believe that I will see, in my lifetime, a world in which women are no longer victims of men.
I am rather pessimistic, and I fear that, in the decades to come, we will see a swing of the pendulum, and the emergence of “virilist” movements in our societies.
Women should not be afraid to put their strengths forward
Anne Berest
What's next for women?
Equal pay.
We're not there yet.
What else must we affirm?
Women should not be afraid to put their strengths forward.
In an ideal world, what should be included in the Constitution?
In an ideal world, article R434-8 of the Internal Security Code should be enforced.
We must protect the words of women when they file complaints.
It is not normal for their statements to end up in the newspapers.
Police officers and gendarmes are subject to professional secrecy obligations.
The taste of freedom
How can we ensure that different generations talk and understand each other?
From my experience as a daughter, and now as a mother, I would say that transmission occurs as much through words as... through actions.
My mother passed on to me the taste for freedom because she was free herself.
She worked, she often went on trips to give her conferences, and above all, she didn't feel guilty about leading the life she wanted to lead!
It's a model.
The words of Narges Mohammadi, and those of his cell sisters, will accompany you forever
Anne Berest
Your memory of progress in favor of women's rights?
Obviously, my memory of such an advance is very recent.
The inclusion of freedom of abortion in the Constitution is an important step forward.
But I constantly remember this sentence from Simone de Beauvoir: “Never forget that it will only take a political, economic or religious crisis for women's rights to be called into question.
These rights are never acquired, you will have to remain vigilant throughout your life.”
Which women still need to be saved? Or help?
We all need to help each other.
But if we have to choose to talk about a cause, allow me to tell you about a book which has just been published this week,
White Torture
, by Narges Mohammadi at Albin Michel.
She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023, and she is a figure of women's resistance in Iran.
Since receiving this award, her incarceration conditions have become even more difficult, more monstrous.
Read his book.
It's urgent.
Her words, those of her cell sisters, will stay with you forever.