France's Minister of Social Economy and French Associations, Marlene Schiappa, has faced backlash from within her own party after she appeared on the cover of Playboy magazine to promote an interview about women's and LGBT rights.
Schiappa, who has been a vocal advocate for women's rights since 2017, when she was appointed as France's first Gender Equality Minister, defended her decision to appear in the magazine. "Defending the right of women to have control over their bodies, that's everywhere and all the time," she tweeted. "In France, women are free."
However, not everyone is on her side. French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne criticized Schiappa's appearance, saying it was "not appropriate" at a time when the country was facing a social crisis. The criticism has sparked a heated debate about the role of politicians in promoting feminist values and the limits of free speech.
French politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon also weighed in on the controversy, accusing Macron of being out of touch with reality. "In a country where the President expresses himself in Pif [a children's magazine] and his minister in Playboy, the problem is not just Schiappa," he tweeted. "France is going off the rails."
Despite the backlash, many have come to Schiappa's defense, including French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, who called her a "woman of character." The controversy has raised questions about the role of women in politics and the limits of free speech, particularly during times of social crisis.
Schiappa, who has been a vocal advocate for women's rights since 2017, when she was appointed as France's first Gender Equality Minister, defended her decision to appear in the magazine. "Defending the right of women to have control over their bodies, that's everywhere and all the time," she tweeted. "In France, women are free."
However, not everyone is on her side. French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne criticized Schiappa's appearance, saying it was "not appropriate" at a time when the country was facing a social crisis. The criticism has sparked a heated debate about the role of politicians in promoting feminist values and the limits of free speech.
French politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon also weighed in on the controversy, accusing Macron of being out of touch with reality. "In a country where the President expresses himself in Pif [a children's magazine] and his minister in Playboy, the problem is not just Schiappa," he tweeted. "France is going off the rails."
Despite the backlash, many have come to Schiappa's defense, including French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, who called her a "woman of character." The controversy has raised questions about the role of women in politics and the limits of free speech, particularly during times of social crisis.
! She was all about empowering women and now she's on Playboy? I'm torn, you know? On one hand, she's still a strong advocate for women's rights and that's super important 
. But at the same time, it's like, isn't this a bit of a contradiction? Like, doesn't she want to be seen as a symbol of feminism? 
I don't think anyone is questioning her values or whatnot, but more about her judgment, you feel? And why does it have to come out now when France is dealing with some serious social issues? 
Just wondering...
! She knows what she wants to promote and isn't afraid to show it off 
. As a woman in politics, you've got to navigate some pretty tricky waters, especially when it comes to being seen as relatable or "one of the gang". Maybe she could have handled it better, but I think she's definitely doing her part to keep feminism in the spotlight 
. The question is, what about the rest of us? How can we support women like Schiappa and make sure they're not just seen as tokenistic figures 
.
I mean, I get why some people are all over it, like, women should be able to make their own choices and all, but others just don't understand 
. Anyway, it's all just drama and I'm over here thinking about my math homework 
ugh.
I mean, Marlene Schiappa is literally fighting for women's rights and then she does a spread in Playboy? It's just crazy! On one hand, I get why some people are upset - it's not exactly the most subtle move. But on the other hand, isn't that kinda the point of feminism, to challenge societal norms and expectations?
, given Macron's history of using children's media to communicate with the public. It's almost as if they're both trying to make a point without actually saying much of anything 
.
i mean, schiappa's all about promoting women's rights, but then she goes and poses for playboy like no big deal 
And if she's doing it on a magazine cover, who cares? 
Is that really a big deal in France right now? 
didnt think french politicians were supposed to be so...exposed. 