French Parties and Parity in Context

Abstract

The French ‘parity’ law has a specific history and context which underpin the issues explored in the remainder of the book relating to the law’s implementation. Similarly, the actors involved in the law’s passage and implementation — France’s political parties — are diverse in a number of ways that are relevant to the analysis of gender parity. This diversity influenced both the initial passage of the ‘parity’ law and the willingness and ability of each party subsequently to meet the requirements of parity.