La Vie en Rose

Les femmes qui ont changé la France

Sainte-Geneviève (420-500) Patron Saint of Paris

Born in the French village of Nanterre, Geneviève dedicated herself to religious life atthe age of 7 and moved to Paris after the death of her parents when she was 15.Often mistaken for une folle due to her deep piety and prophetic visions, she went onto become the patron saint and protector of the city of Paris. (Lutèce)

In 451, as the armies of Attila approached Paris, Geneviève begged its citizens to notflee, promising that Paris would remain unharmed — and she was right. What is leftof Sainte-Geneviève‘s relics can be found at the Church of Saint-Étienne-du-Mont nextto the Panthéon in Paris.(most of her remains were burned during the French Revolution in 1793)

Jeanne d’Arc (1412-1430) Patron Saint of France

As a national heroine and the patron saint of France, Joan (Jeanne)

of Arc has been inspirational to many historical French figures.

Fearless in her stance against the English, Joan led the French army

into a victorious battle during the 100 Years War. However, the

English captured the brave young Joan and she was burned at the

stake, becoming a martyr for France in the process. Joan of Arc has

since become a ubiquitous character in French performing arts and

literature.

Olympe de Gouges (1748-1793) French playwright/activist

This highly political and admirable French playwright slash activist was an outspoken

advocate for improving the conditions of slaves in colonies. Stubborn in her conviction that

women should hold the same rights as men, she wrote the influential text Declaration of the

Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen. Despite being executed, along with many of her

contemporaries, during the Reign of Terror for attacking the government, De Gouges was an

integral figure in the progress of human rights.

Marie Curie (1867-1934) Polish born physicist/noble prize

This extremely intelligent physicist and chemist broke a lot of glass ceilings in her lifetime.

Madame Curie became first person to ever win the Nobel Prize twice, and she was also the

first woman to win the prize, become a professor at the University of Paris, and be enshrined

at the Panthéon, Her contributions to the male-dominated scientific world have been

crucial to the progress of physics, chemistry and the development of x-ray machines.

Édith Piaf (1935-1963) French singer (aka: “The Voice of the 20th Century”)

Everyone adores the song La vie en rose, sung by this exquisite French music icon. Street

singer turned star, Piaf was discovered singing on the streets of Paris. Regarded as France’s

national chanteuse, Piaf had an endless stream of lovers, which gave her lots of inspiration

for her passionate lyrics. Piaf redefined France’s status in the music industry.

“Basing your life on a dream is something that always surprises the skeptics, but ourentire life is made up of chance happenings, good or bad, against which human will isvirtually powerless.”

Marianne de FranceThe embodiment of the French RevolutionMarianne has been the national personification of the French Republic

since the French Revolution, as a personification of liberty, equality,

fraternity and reason, and a portrayal of the Goddess of Liberty.

The image of Marianne comes down from Antiquity. The Phrygian bonnet was worn under the Roman Empire by former

slaves who had been emancipated by their master and whose descendants were therefore considered citizens of the

Empire. Democracy was already represented as having a woman’s face: at her feet a tiller and a sack of wheat, slumped on

the ground and overflowing; having little regard for power, she is concerned above all with the aspirations of the people.

Marianne des États-UnisLa Statue de la LibértéMarianne has been the national

personification of the French Republic

since the French Revolution, as a

personification of liberty, equality,

fraternity and reason, and a portrayal of

the Goddess of Liberty.

The Statue of Liberty in New York

harbor was given to the United States

by France and is based upon Marianne.

The image of Marianne comes down from antiquity. The Phrygian bonnet was worn under the Roman Empire by former

slaves who had been emancipated by their master and whose descendants were therefore considered citizens of the

Empire. Democracy was already represented as having a woman’s face: at her feet a tiller and a sack of wheat, slumped on

the ground and overflowing; having little regard for power, she is concerned above all with the aspirations of the people.

Devoirs:Watch this film…

“The Messenger: The Story of Joan

of Arc” and complete the activity

worksheet. (found on class website)

It will be due on Monday 11/16

before class and emailed to me.