‘Place aux femmes!’: Université Paris Cité Honors Pioneering Women in Medicine and Law
Paris, May 7 – The Université Paris Cité is currently hosting two significant exhibitions titled “Place aux femmes!” (Make Way for Women!), which celebrate the groundbreaking achievements of the first women doctors and lawyers in France. These exhibitions, drawing from the university’s rich archives, highlight the challenges and triumphs of women who, at the turn of the 20th century, defied societal norms to enter intellectual professions traditionally reserved for men.
The exhibition dedicated to pioneering women in medicine is on display at the BU Grands Moulins, located at 5 rue Thomas Mann in the 13th arrondissement of Paris, running from April 3 to June 26, 2026. Concurrently, the exhibition focusing on the first women lawyers is available for viewing at the BU Jeanne-Chauvin in Malakoff, from April 7 to June 26, 2026.
Unveiling Hidden Histories: A Deep Dive into the Lives of Trailblazers
These dual cultural events in Île-de-France invite visitors to rediscover figures who have long remained in the shadows of official history. The Université Paris Cité reaffirms its commitment to gender equality, a core mission of the institution, by bringing these stories to light. The project stands out for its historical and documentary depth, presenting portraits of notable figures such as Jeanne Chauvin, Augusta Klumpke, and Alice Sollier. These women bravely integrated closed environments, governed by entirely masculine customs and practices, often facing significant opposition from the press and contemporary caricatures.
Agnès Sandras serves as the general curator for both exhibitions, ensuring a cohesive narrative that explores the history of professions, the role of women in society, and the mechanisms of invisibilization that have long obscured their contributions.
Historical Figures Re-emerge in a Contemporary Context
The recognition of these pioneers aligns with a broader historiographical movement. In recent years, historians, doctors, and legal professionals have worked to individually and collectively acknowledge these exceptional women. Numerous publications and scientific and cultural events attest to this effort to bring visibility to their long-neglected roles in the official historical record.
The year 2026 holds particular symbolic significance. In the legal field, it marks the centenary of the death of Jeanne Chauvin, the first French woman to earn a doctorate in law and to plead in court, whose name now graces the Law, Economics, and Management library of the Université Paris Cité. In medicine, current events are equally rich: among the 72 names of women scientists soon to adorn the Eiffel Tower, seven are women doctors, with five of them featured in the exhibition.
Furthermore, the Université Paris Cité organized a consultation in March 2026 to rename three major amphitheatres in its Faculty of Health. The proposed names include Madeleine Brès, whose portrait is in the exhibition, as well as Suzanne Noël and Marianne Grunberg-Manago. These converging initiatives highlight a cultural and institutional landscape that is increasingly attentive to the rightful place of women in collective memory.
Practical Information
Exhibition “Place aux femmes! The First Women Doctors”:
- Location: BU Grands Moulins, 5 rue Thomas Mann, 75013 Paris.
- Dates: April 3 to June 26, 2026.
- Closures: May 1, 8, 14, and 25, 2026.
Exhibition “Place aux femmes! The First Women Lawyers”:
- Location: BU Jeanne-Chauvin, 10 avenue Pierre Larousse, 92240 Malakoff.
- Dates: April 7 to June 26, 2026.
- Closures: April 27 to May 3 inclusive, as well as May 8, 14, and 25, 2026.
For more information, please visit u-paris.fr.
Source: jds.fr
