Madame Caillaux Gender Roles

In The Trial of Madame Caillaux, author Edward Berenson interprets the acquittal of Madame Caillaux as a societal crisis that resulted from greater female independence in France. During the Belle Epoque period the question of women’s roles were often questioned. Men of society believed there was natural and hierarchical differences between men and women believing men were superior in all aspects. The Trial of Madame Caillaux dispels the idea that these differences exists instead displaying a shift in gender roles. The ideas displayed in the book such as Henriette Calliaux’s crime, the rise in divorce, and greater female independence at home and employment displays women in a new light shifting out of their traditional norms. The Trial of

The Napoleonic Code of 1804 made divorce almost impossible for women and made men the head of the household. This would change with new divorce laws in 1884. The new divorce laws created a new idea of marriage but many feared the breakaway of traditional family values. Following the years after the introduction of the new divorce laws divorces were issued on a large scale, many of them being requested by women. “Women originated about 60 percent of all divorce proceedings.” Women initiating divorce may have been a result of women taking more control over their lives instead of depending on a man for happiness. Some women would choose not to get married and instead chose careers. Divorce would offer great changes to gender relations and gave women a say in the marriage and the option to leave the marriage more easily than ever before. “In any event, the mere existence of a divorce law served to undermine authority of the husband in the household.” Divorce would bring many changes to the family especially when children were involved. Children would be split up between the two parents often lead to a decline in paternal power. In the Trial of Madame Caillaux, both Madame Caillaux and Joseph’s first wife Berthe were divorced women. Both committed adultery during their marriage and got remarried. The idea of adultery when against the ideals of a real woman. Real

In 1881, women were able to open a bank account without a man. In 1907, they were able to dispose freely of their earnings and earn part of their husbands earnings. There were also new educational opportunities available to women. Many also found a new sense of independence at home or in employment opportunities. Many men were busy working and providing for the family. In a way women were able to become head of the household in respect to raising the children. Women in the domestic sphere had earned independence at home choosing how the children would be raised and having a large influence over the family. In 1907 women also gained equal rights over their children which helped assert women’s control over the family. Women also had more access to education which allowed women to enter new fields of employment than ever before. During this time period 30 percent of women were in the workforce. Some women took advantage of new educational opportunities. Some women entered fields of art, journalism, medicine and law. This is significant to note because in the first half of the 19th century most women did not work. The trial of Madame Caillaux addresses the importance of the new working class women. “Though the number of professional women remained relatively low in the years before World War I, the very existence of women teachers, lawyers, and doctors represented a