A collective of over 200 French authors, including notable writers like Annie Ernaux, Virginie Despentes, and Anne Godard, has spoken out against the sexism prevalent in the country's major literary prizes. In an open letter published on the website of the French daily Libération, the authors express their discontent with the fact that the five main French literary prizes have all been awarded to men. The prizes in question are the Goncourt, Renaudot, Femina, Médicis, and Grand prix de l'Académie française.
The recent literary awards season in France has seen a consistent trend of male winners. The Goncourt prize was awarded to Philippe Jaenada, while François-Henri Désérable won the Renaudot prize. The Femina prize went to Yannick Haenel, Philippe Vasset won the Médicis prize, and Sébastien Lapaque received the Grand prix de l'Académie française. This outcome has sparked criticism from the collective of authors, who argue that the selection process is biased towards men.
The authors behind the open letter argue that the juries responsible for selecting the winners have achieved a remarkable feat by exclusively rewarding male authors. They point out that this year's literary season had been touted as particularly open and diverse, with many excellent works written by women receiving critical acclaim and support from booksellers and readers. The authors believe that the old boys' club system is still prevalent in the French literary scene.
Some of the authors who have signed the open letter have themselves received literary prizes, albeit less prominent ones. Anne Godard won the Décembre prize, while Lucie Rico received the prix de Flore. The Femina étranger prize was awarded to American author Laura Kasischke. The collective argues that the system is flawed, with jury members often being appointed through a process of cooptation and serving for life.
According to the authors, one of the reasons behind the reluctance to award prizes to women is a tendency to shy away from literary works that tackle so-called "feminine" subjects, such as incest. Several books dealing with this topic were part of this year's literary season. The authors are calling for reforms, including the establishment of rotating and parity-based juries that better represent the diversity of the editorial landscape.
The open letter was initiated by philosopher Camille Froidevaux-Metterie and authors Louise Chennevière and Anne Godard. It has garnered support from a range of notable authors, including Anne Berest, Adèle Yon, Emma Marsantes, and Nadia Daam. The collective is demanding change and greater inclusivity in the French literary prize system.
The controversy surrounding the French literary prizes highlights the need for greater diversity and representation in the selection process. The collective's call for reform has sparked a necessary conversation about the role of women in literature and the importance of recognizing their contributions. As the literary scene continues to evolve, it remains to be seen whether the prizes will become more inclusive and representative of the diverse range of voices in French literature.
Key points
- The collective of authors is calling for the establishment of rotating and parity-based juries to address the issue of sexism in the French literary prize system.
