Des Filles Libres -

In 2024, France inscribed the right to abortion in its constitution, a world first. The gesture was symbolic but powerful. It declared that a fille libre has the final say over her own biology.

Young women today are the most connected in history. They can access information about contraception, self-defense, and legal rights with a single search. They can find communities of support across continents. Des filles libres

For Black, Arab, and Asian young women in France and Belgium, there is an additional layer: the colonial gaze. In 2024, France inscribed the right to abortion

Psychologists and activists note that many young women, even in progressive cities, suffer from what they call “l’auto-censure intériorisée” (internalized self-censorship). They are free to speak, but they hear their father’s voice. They are free to choose a career, but they feel their mother’s fear. Young women today are the most connected in history