The “théorie du genre” Chimera, or How the Debate Surrounding the French Same-Sex Marriage Law of May 17, 2013 Reveals the Mechanisms of a Gender System
While the French law of May 17, 2013 to legalize same-sex marriage was a major advance for non-heteronormative families, it also highlighted the resistance to changing gender norms as they apply to families. The controversial French term “théorie du genre,” arising from a literal translation of the English term “gender theory,” has influenced legislators and slowed the advance of equality for all families. At the same time, an analysis of parliamentary proceedings reveals gender mechanisms largely inspired by the realm of the imagination.