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Avivah Wittenberg-Cox's avatar

Loving these modern matriarchs! Real role models.

And having spent much of my career getting male leaders to proactively promote gender balance in their organizations- I know just how hard it is for individual men to speak out.

That’s why leaders have an outsize impact on these issues.

France wants to be ‘different’ - taking food more seriously than sex (am half French).

And seducing younger women into thinking that’s cool.

Here’s to older women showing the way!

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Maurice Clive Bisby's avatar

And here's to Older men giving support, speaking out, educating the ignorant...

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Zeva Bellel's avatar

What fabulous reporting, Monique. 💪🏻

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Monique El-Faizy's avatar

Thank you so much!

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Deborah Copaken's avatar

Brilliant and infuriating in equal measure. Thank you for publishing this story.

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Maurice Clive Bisby's avatar

Succinctly put. Monique's work need to reach a wider audience. Let's help her do that....

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Monique El-Faizy's avatar

Thank you!

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Monique El-Faizy's avatar

Thank you! xx

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Aurélie's avatar

I hadn't heard of this case, thank you for bringing it to my attention. Truly appalling that the french court sided with the husband and the archaic “matrimonial duty” concept. And I 100% agree with you that women cannot alone win this fight. We need male allies, we need men to confront other men. Our message needs to come from outside (women) and from inside the house (men) if we want patriarchy-influenced men to hear it.

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Maurice Clive Bisby's avatar

I am happy to ally and confront. Any one else out there ? Let's do this - write to me, publicly at @thiscreativeadventure.com or privately via mcb25tca@aol.com

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Susan Olsen's avatar

It’s unbelievable to me that these things aren’t a given. The poor women before us. Thank you to all the women fighting this. We all need to get the men in our lives on board. I will start with my teenage son.

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Maurice Clive Bisby's avatar

Hi Susan, may I suggest a reason for these things not being a given...... Modern Society is still pretty much entrenched in Millenia-Old Fundamental Religions, that have shaped our Laws and Attitudes. ie:- it's less than 60 years since U.K. women were allowed to have these words taken out of their marriage ceremony, "To Honour and Obey". Despite this tiniest of improvements, Women are still treated as subject to their spouse's whims. I was also brought up to believe this was correct..... Experience taught me to reject such cruel nonsense, and I am delighted that my sons have never fallen for heinous untruth.... Regards, Maurice

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Maurice Clive Bisby's avatar

Monique you are to be applauded for your reportage, stance and clarion callout for action, education and compassion. Wonderful work indeed, Our World needs more voices such as yours. Respect, Maurice

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Monique El-Faizy's avatar

Thank you Maurice!

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