Introduction — “Another France”

Abstract

This phrase, “another France,” inspired the book title and comes from the above interview excerpt with a 34-year-old woman, Elizabeth, who migrated from Côte d’Ivoire to France five years ago. She explained to me that in the world of child care in France someone at her income level pays 450 euros a month at a private day-care facility but just 38 euros a month at a public one. Regardless of whether she has these amounts correct, her perception and interpretation of the stratified French social milieu (context) is key to consider. For Elizabeth, there are two Frances: one that offers the Republican ideals of liberté, égalité, fraternité to its citizenry, and another France — her France — where freedom, equal treatment in society, and secular brotherhood are not granted as set out in the universality celebrated within the national motto. And the basis of this national motto comes from Article 1 of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen of 1793: “Men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Social distinctions may be founded only upon the general good” ¹ (Embassy of France in the United States 2014; République française [Republic of France] 1789).

As an African, you have to insist and demand your rights. I use the same roads, the same stores, but I live in another France. We are different physically and they know my race by my name and skin. Someone in my Bible study who has a 13-month-old got her baby a place in the public crèche [state-subsidized day care]. She is French and white. I put my daughter on the list when I was five months pregnant and now she is 18 months old. I still do not have a place. Why is this woman in front of me? When I ask if there is space for my daughter, they say, ‘Madam, the places are taken. I cannot do anything.’

~ Elizabeth from Côte d’Ivoire, 1 child, 5 years in France