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Travel Piece by Ida Nasatir
Letter from Paris, by Ida Nasatir, October 20, 1950
October 20, 1950—Ida Nasatir, "A
Letter from Paris," Southwestern Jewish Press, page
7: Dear Julia and Mac: Not long ago I wrote you saying that Paris
was "a woman's town." It is, but now I say that you girls in san Diego
would not like being Parisian wives. Not one bit! The legal status of the French
wife is terribly low, and I use the word "terribly" advisably.
For instance, listen girls: Divorces are not granted here by French Catholic
judges for a man's meandering unfaithfulness which is rather expected and
condoned. Financial settlements by the bride's parents are still customary
before the girl can acquire a husband. Respectable girls are not free to elope
and do as they please, but are always under strict parental control and of the
men folk, either father or husband. A Frenchman may openly and extravagently
support several mistresses, if he chooses to do so, occasionally with his
wife's money, and be penurious with his wife, but still such conduct does
not constitute grounds for divorce. Neither is he responsible for
extravagant purchases of his wife, or for any. Alimony is virtually
unknown and rarely, if ever, exceeds a mere pittance of $25 monthly, which is
considered enough for a woman's subsistence. Twenty thousand francs, or
$60, is the largest amount that has ever been awarded. Therefore, alimony
hunters in France are unknown, and tolerant wives rely on their ability to hold
their husband's affection and on his sense of chivalry. A woman's life
theoretically ends with the death of her husband. I was shocked to discover that
life insurance for widows and children is not customary, which may be one reason
why the French are such a saving and frugal people. Family life however, is
somewhat closer than in America, despite rumor to the contrary, and husbands
return home for a daily two-hour luncheon whenever possible. Although General De
Gaulle gave the vote to women when France was liberated from the Germans after
the second world War, yet French women have never relaly become interested in
the popular franchise, preferring to leave that part of life to their men. You
see, life is viewed differently in la belle France, which after all is "a
woman's country" and where such democratic sentiments as liberte, egalite,
et fraternite are still symbolized by a beautiful woman, even on the paper
money. Aren't you glad, Julia, you are married to Mac...and that your
permanent home is San Diego, U.S.A.? Fondly, Ida Nasatir.