It was an article in Madame Figaro that first headlined her astonishment over a photo described as “out of time”. In this snapshot taken on Sunday, the wives of the G7 leaders are Nordic walking in Germany.
Very smiling, Brigitte Macron, the wife of the French president is surrounded by Carrie Johnson, the wife of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Britta Ernst, the wife of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Amelie Derbaudrenghien, the companion of the President of the Council European Charles Michel pose in front of the photographers present.
“Men in reu, women in hike”headlines the French daily ironically.
While Emmanuel Macron, Boris Johnson, Joe Biden or even Justin Trudeau are gathered to discuss delicate subjects such as the war in Ukraine, food security, and the climate emergency, the wives of the leaders follow an entertainment program.
“Men work; women play”, deplores a twitto. By concluding that there is still work to be done regarding gender equality.
“I’m the only one who finds this situation terribly sexist”, a surfer is surprised in the comments section of Figaro. “What a waste of money for these meetings”, laments another.
The Gala magazine, which evokes the subject in an article, even wonders if this photo was sponsored by the patriarchy… Enough to animate the debate.