Marlene Schiappa, the Minister for the Social Economy in France, has been on the receiving end of considerable backlash for her appearance on the cover of the iconic Playboy magazine. The April issue of the magazine in France is set to showcase Schiappa, who was, in fact, fully clothed during the photoshoot. Despite receiving tremendous support from her admirers, who applauded the move as a symbol of female empowerment, Schiappa’s political adversaries and colleagues alike were swift in criticizing the decision.
Criticism from Colleagues and Opponents
The French Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, confronted Schiappa, admonishing her for what she considered to be an ill-timed and inappropriate decision. Her reasoning being, that it came at a time when France was experiencing intense violent clashes between police and striking workers, protesting President Emmanuel Macron’s proposed pension changes. Sandrine Rousseau, a women’s rights activist, and Green MP, echoed these sentiments, voicing her disapproval of the timing of Schiappa’s decision. Although Rousseau believes in women’s ability to showcase their bodies anywhere, she maintains that the social context should also be taken into account.
Defending Her Decision
In response to the backlash, Schiappa has fiercely defended her decision to feature in Playboy, arguing that women have the right to do whatever they please with their bodies. She also asserted that women in France are free to make their own choices, regardless of retrogressive or hypocritical opinions.
Schiappa’s Career and Controversies
Schiappa is a familiar face on French TV talk shows, a feminist author, and has written extensively on women’s health, pregnancy, and the challenges of motherhood. As Minister of Equalities in 2018, she made catcalling and street harassment illegal. However, Schiappa has also been at the center of several controversies. In 2010, she published a book that provided sex tips for overweight people, which some critics claimed perpetuated damaging cliches. In 2017, she was accused of staging a visit to a “no-go area for women” in Paris.
Playboy’s Response
The French-language editor of Playboy, however, has come to Schiappa’s defense, stating that she is the most “Playboy compatible” of Macron’s cabinet ministers because of her unwavering advocacy for women’s rights. He also defended the magazine, claiming that it is an intellectual and trendy 300-page “mook” (a book and magazine mix), although it still features a few undressed women.
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