The sobriety of the courtroom contrasts sharply with the splendor and glitter associated with the Miss France contest. It is in this context that the Labor Court (CPH) of Bobigny heard, Tuesday, June 21, a case opposing the association Dare feminism! to the companies Endemol productions and Miss France.
The militant organization had lodged an appeal before the CPH in mid-October, denouncing a “perfect violation of labor law” against women “exploited, who rehearse and perform a sexist, discriminatory and lucrative show”according the words of the press release of the association. Dare feminism! demanded the establishment of employment contracts from the first stages of the selection, at the local level, as well as the removal of all discriminating criteria from the registration form for the centenary competition.
Three individuals – three young women who were not present at the hearing and request anonymity after threats on social media – joined the action, believing they suffered harm when they did not been able to register for the competition, in the spring of 2021, because they did not meet all the criteria, deemed illegal.
“School case” of non-compliance with the labor code
“Be at least 1.70 m tall without heels, not be – or have been – married or civil union, not have children, not smoke or drink alcohol in public, not exhibit behavior contrary to good manners », lists the lawyer for the militant association, Violaine de Filippis-Abate, facing a public made nervous by the three hours of previous hearings and an impassive jury. The competition entry form is “a textbook case” non-compliance with the French labor code, storms the lawyer, for whom these registration papers are similar to a job offer with the aim of occupying ultimately the position of Miss France – framed by a one-year contract, paid.
The plaintiffs wished to compete for Miss France, in 2021, seduced by the promises of a feminist and progressive competition, dedicated to the cause of women, explained before the hearing the spokesperson for Dare feminism!, Alyssa Ahrabare. But “they were confronted with the role of a woman who would not exist beyond her appearance, who has no opinion”. At the helm, Mr.e Filippis Abate explains the approach of one of them who “wanted to represent all women” and who estimated, on reading the form, that “the greatness of a Miss seems[ait] measure yourself by your centimeters, not your personality”. And to add:
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