French Associations’ Actions to Promote ‘Parity’ in Elected Political Assemblies : Based on Field Researches in France

フランス　ノ　ヒエイリシミンダンタイ　アソシアシオン　ニ　ヨル　パリテ　ジッセン カツドウ　ノ　ゲンジョウ　ゲンチ　キキトリ チョウサ　ヲ　チュウシン ニ

ムラカミ, アヤカ

Murakami, Ayaka

オオサカ ダイガク ダイガクイン ニンゲン カガク ケンキュウカ シャカイガク ニンゲンガク ジンルイガク ケンキュウシツ

Sociology, Anthropology and Philosophy, Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University

パリテ

女性の政治参画

男女平等

アソシアシオン

France

parity law

women in politics

equality of the sexes

association

In 1999, France amended its Constitution to allow a legislated quota system. And in 2000, France adopted ‘parity law’, which promotes equal access for men and women to elected positions. Thus the word ‘parity’ means gender equality in politics in France. As French political parties were reluctant to introduce a voluntary party candidate quota, the government imposed a legislated quota system. Parity law brought drastic change to France, yet associations also played great roles to promote parity. Thus, this article examines the actions associations took to promote parity by analyzing 1) history of associations which demanded parity laws, 2) concrete examples of parity promoting actions of two associations, ‘Elles aussi’ and ‘Femmes d’Alsace’, which the author visited. Elles aussi is a network of paritypromoting associations. It has some partners and branch offi ces in France. Femmes d’Alsace is a relatively small, local association that is a partner member of Elles aussi.Analysis showed that associations, including Elles aussi and Femmes d’Alsace, played important roles to promote parity since early 1990s. Not only feminist associations but also conservative catholic women associations campaigned for parity law. Analyzing both associations revealed the following fi ve characteristics. First, both are administrated by volunteer workers. Second, while Elles aussi has a certain infl uence on the French government’s decision about promoting parity, it also maintains an independence from the government. Third, due to being a member of Elles aussi network, Femmes d’Alsace can advertise itself at a relatively small cost. Fourth, as both are not affi liated with any political party, they can support any woman who wants to enter politics regardless of her party affi liation. Finally, both organizations continuously improve their actions. Surprisingly, Elles aussi has recently begun to support women who want to fi nd another job after fi nishing her term as a member of a political assembly.