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In the annals of Parisian lore, a peculiar rumor persists: that until 2013, women were prohibited from wearing trousers due to an ancient law that remained unchallenged. This intriguing legend, often intertwined with tales of Marlene Dietrich’s alleged arrest in the 1930s for daring to defy this prohibition, has captured the fascination of many. However, the reality behind this narrative is more complex than meets the eye.
However, there’s more to this story than meets the eye.
Delve into the annals of history, and you’ll find that many European nations once imposed strict regulations on women’s attire, with the Catholic Church condemning cross-dressing as heretical. France, in particular, addressed the matter officially in 1800, decreeing that women seeking to “dress as men” must seek permission from the police. But here’s the catch:
This was merely a decree, not a binding law, and there were no specified penalties. Moreover, it was enforced solely within Paris and its suburbs, not across all of France. So, did Parisian law enforcement truly devote significant resources to issuing trouser permits to women?
While a few notable instances exist, such as painter Rosa Bonheur securing a “permission de travestissement” from Paris police in 1857, records suggest that only a small number of permits were ever issued. Mostly, these permits were granted to women who sought to cross-dress, rather than those simply opting for practical or work-related attire.
By the late 19th century, the fight for women’s right to wear trousers gained momentum, fueled by activists advocating for “rational dress.” They argued that the fashionable attire of the day, with its restrictive corsets and cumbersome skirts, hindered women’s freedom. The invention of the bicycle further catalyzed this movement, leading to the popularization of “bloomers,” loose trousers favored by lady cyclists, even in Paris.
Despite the waning relevance of the permit requirement since the early 1900s, the notion persisted in the public imagination. In 1933, Marlene Dietrich’s visit to Paris, clad in her signature men’s suits, sparked rumors of her arrest under the infamous trouser law. Yet, official records reveal no such incident, suggesting that it may have been an early case of “fake news.”
In 2013, headlines once again proclaimed the repeal of the trouser law. However, it’s important to note that this was never a national law to begin with. Rather, it was a decree that Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, the women’s minister at the time, declared incompatible with the French constitution and equality laws. While formal withdrawal remains within the purview of the Paris police préfecture, historical evidence suggests that women in trousers have long ceased to draw police attention.
And so, the tale of Paris’s trouser law serves as a reminder of the complexities of history and the enduring struggle for gender equality. It prompts us to reflect on how far we’ve come and how much further we have yet to go on the journey toward a more inclusive and just society.
