Why French Men Are Still Cads

Written by Rachel Ryan on Friday May 7, 2010

As is common knowledge, the French are world-class romantics. Single men and married men alike flirt shamelessly in a way that definitely would not fly in a puritan, post-feminist America… and yet, American women love it.

As is common knowledge, the French are world-class romantics. Single men and married men alike flirt shamelessly in a way that definitely would not fly in a puritan, post-feminist America… and yet, American women love it.

Very few men are vulgar or offensive, however, they are quite vocal and persistent.  “I don’t understand why you American girls take offense when someone calls you beautiful. Can’t we just appreciate you?” says a French friend, Guillaume.  However, it gets to a point where incessant attempts to “appreciate you,” and ask you out become overbearing.

I had to stop going to my convenient store because the 40-year-old, married owner would ask me out every time I went in… he even went so far as to find me on facebook!

On the one hand, French men appreciate women and their “beauty,” and they aren’t afraid to show it.  And on the other hand, they simply don’t respect women.  They don’t respect when a woman says “no” for the tenth time, when she tells them to go away, even when she says she has a boyfriend, and has a picture to prove it no less!

While American men put on the ego-crushing façade of being “too cool” and indifferent towards women, French men take “interested” to an entirely different level.

There is undoubtedly still the “dominant male” mentality in France… in bars, in the work place, and even among married couples.  There is a hushed sexism that runs rampant.

While American boys could definitely learn a thing or two from the confident French romantics, these French romantics are walking a fine line between “harmless flirting” and pure disrespect, bordering on harassment.

To America’s feminists: though I like to blame you for a loss of chivalry and sense of femininity in our country, I thank you for establishing a much more equalizing, agreeable dating precedence.

Categories: FF Spotlight News