A Street, A Story in Lyon: Justin Godart, the Feminist Ally
In the heart of Lyon’s Croix-Rousse, a street in the 4th arrondissement bears the name of Justin Godart. The Lyonnais, initially destined for law, ultimately led a political life as a Rhône deputy, senator, and minister before becoming Mayor of Lyon during the Liberation in 1944. In between, he was a resistance fighter during World War II and founder of the newspaper ‘Le Patriote beaujolais’.
Through our series “A street, a story in Lyon,” we delve into the history of this politician whose actions profoundly impacted the place of women in society. A defender of maternity leave and women’s right to vote, he fought for their emancipation. A largely unknown commitment, traces of which can be found in the municipal archives of Lyon.
Justin Godart: Facilitating Women’s Work
From the early 20th century, the radical-socialist militant advocated for women’s rights within the Society for Feminist Studies and Actions. Ahead of his time, in 1906, Justin Godart demanded equal pay for men and women. With the development of industry, he believed that women were no longer just mothers or housewives; they were now workers. The law for equality would only be adopted in 1972. He didn’t stop there, imposing on employers the opening of nurseries in factories so that female workers could work without being hindered by their role as mothers.
A Rhône Deputy Serving the Feminist Cause
In 1908, as a Rhône deputy, he introduced a law in favor of women’s liberation, to repeal Article 213 of the Civil Code stating that “the husband owes protection to his wife, the wife obedience to her husband.” He also spoke out against prostitution, denouncing the precariousness of certain young women oppressed by a system of male domination on which they depended.
On the eve of World War I, the compulsory rest for pregnant women, before and after childbirth, which he had initiated eight years earlier, was adopted. It would become today’s maternity leave.
Justin Godart at the Forefront for Women’s Suffrage
While women were excluded from the functioning of the city, Justin Godart defended their right to vote, arguing that “where women have voted, more peace and morality have been introduced.”
As president of the parliamentary group for women’s rights, on June 20, 1920, he spoke at the grand meeting of the Geneva Congress on women’s suffrage in all countries, organized by the International Alliance for Women’s Suffrage. At the end of this meeting, senators were to decide on the right to vote for French women. It was refused, only to be granted in 1944, after a new demand to which Justin Godart, then Mayor of Lyon since the Liberation, was largely favorable.
His legacy, often overshadowed by his other political achievements, reveals a man deeply committed to social justice and equality, a true pioneer in the fight for women’s rights in France.
Source: https://www.affiches-parisiennes.com/69000-lyon/l-histoire-de-justin-godart-maire-de-lyon-depute-et-allie-feministe-336782.html
