19.
"While considering that the family plays a very important role in the
possibilities of expanding personal life, the Socialist Party certainly the existence
of other forms of private life (celibacy, free unions, unwed fatherhood or
motherhood, and communities). Finally, it takes its stand against
repression or discriminations affecting homosexuals. Their rights and
dignity must be respected.
''It
is not for it [the SP] to legislate on how each one wants to run his own
life," (Program, pp. 15 1 - 152).
The
current socialist government affirms, in an implicit but shocking manner, it
radical equivalence between marriage and other forms of sexual relations. Even
before the legislative session started, it already began to fulfill its
campaign promises to homosexual groups whose support it received:
a)
The Ministry of Health decided that France will no longer apply the World
Health Organization's classification of homosexuality as a mental illness (Le
Monde, June 28 and 29, 1981)
b)
At the request of the homosexuals, the Minister of the interior gave orders to
eliminate the branch of the Paris Police called "groups for
repression" of homosexuals (consisting of inspectors in charge of
controlling homosexual establishments, especially to ensure that closing hours
are obeyed) and the files on homosexuals (whose existence, by the way, the
police department absolutely denies - cf. Le Monde, June 28 and 29,
1981).
20.
"The poor diffusion of contraception methods, the conditions
restricting voluntary interruption of pregnancy and the poor application of the
Veil Law (on abortion) are such that the majority of women do not have control
of their own sexuality, nor of their maternity ... Putting an end to this
situation means having sexual education in the schools and unrestricted
access to free contraception " (Program. p. 247).
21.
Citing a speech of Mitterand in Marseille in May 1979, the Program affirms: "One
cannot ... be socialist without being feminist" (p. 45).
But
the Program's feminism is opposed to recognizing and glorifying the qualities
of women as such for this would he considered "the old notion of
'feminity,' hidden under a modernist liberal discourse . . . that harps on
women 's particular aptitude, the strength of their instinct, the richness of
their interior world ... In brief, one finds here again the idea of a
'feminine nature' different front that of men that has always served to justify
the marginalization and domination of women " (pp. 50-51). This
difference between men and women, which is so natural is precisely what the SP
is denying.
For
this reason, according to the SP, "school must encourage the two sexes to
have the same ambitions regarding their studies and professional careers. A
truly mixed education is necessary to eliminate practical arts courses, for
example, in which the girls are relegated to learning sewing or secretarial
skills while the boys are the majority in the technical, industrial and
commercial classes. The goal must be that all options be mixed" (Program,
p. 249).
Finally
the Program affirms that participation in domestic chores "must begin very
early since the child under stands them and can participate in them from an
early age. Once this participation is achieved while they are young, the boys'
share must not be permitted to diminish nor the girls' to increase as they
reach adulthood. And very naturally this participation will be maintained
in old age." (Program, p 307.
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