80 years ago, at the end of the Second World War, French women obtained the right to vote. On April 21, 1944, an amendment stated: “ Women will be voters and eligible under the same conditions as men “. French women were among the last in Europe to obtain this right. But it was not until April 29, 1945 that voters exercised this new right, during a municipal election. Among these voters, Marcelle Abadie. She is now 104 years old and remembers these two historic moments for the young woman she was.
4 mins
RFI: You went to vote on April 29, 1945. What memories do you have of that day and that of April 21, 1944? ?
Marcelle Abadie: Ah, it was an event. It was an event, because it was the first time and it had an impact on us. I was very touched, very shaken. The right to vote, for us, was great. We didn’t dare believe it, until the end, we wondered if we would indeed obtain this right. For voting day [Ndlr, le 29 avril 1945], I went to the hairdresser. It was an exceptional day for me. There were a lot of people. We had to wait to vote because there were queues. But there weren’t many women. That’s the misfortune. In my time, women were not interested in politics and when I spoke to them about politics, they replied that they had other things to do and that politics was for men. I didn’t insist.
What was your state of mind when you went to the polling station?
I was a little fearful, because I wondered if I would know how to make the right choice. You know, for women, at that time, it was cleaning, cooking, cooking pots. The woman was good at being a maid at home, taking care of the children. When the husband arrived, he was served like a prince, so I was wondering “ am I going to vote correctly? “. I asked around, but there were different opinions, so I wondered, “ but who is right? “. It was difficult for me, but there were still newspapers and radio too. In any case, I voted for whoever I wanted.
Remember your reaction when you first heard “voted”?
Ah, it did something to me that I feel every time I vote. I see myself voting that day. It marked me. It was an important day in my life, that day I felt like I became an adult. Before, when we were talking about politics and the person I was talking to didn’t agree with me, I let him talk, but afterwards, I said ” you think as you want and I think as I want “. So I had changed, yes! The vote made me mature.
Did you talk about it with your family?
No, because I did not share my family’s political views. I didn’t vote for the same party, so we didn’t talk about it. It was better that way, we avoided problems. But everyone voted what they wanted anyway, fortunately.
For you, the right to vote is an achievement that we tend to forget?
Ah yes, it’s an achievement that must always be defended. Above all, women must continue to be interested in politics. A woman who doesn’t vote is not a good French woman. It is a right that we must exercise, because there are countries where this is not possible.
Did you miss a vote?
I voted in every election, and I voted according to my ideas. I have never voted to please a person. I always took the time to find out, always yes. When I went to vote, I knew who I was voting for, even if sometimes I wasn’t right every time. But in any case, I always did my best. I regret that women still vote like their husbands.
Which female politician have you admired?
Simone Veil. She marked her time. What was good was that she didn’t have any fixed ideas and that we could talk to her. It was someone.