[RDVC] Interview with Valérie Trierweiler, a woman of today

In the scope of the month of womens' rights, some students from the student society, RDVC, had the chance and pleasure to talk to Valérie Trierweiler, journalist and politically active woman.

Valérie Trierweiler's background

Valérie was born into a working class family in Angers. She left her hometown to study History at Nanterre University. Her passion for History started in her last year at school, inspired by an extraordinary teacher called Madame Boussard. Valérie Trierweiler has a very curious nature and is interested in literature that she sees as a means of escape. Amongst her list of key cultural references, she quotes the political programs, L’heure de vérité and Apostrophe.

During her academic path, she changed direction towards a master's degree in Information and Communication and then a second master's degree in Political Communication. After her studies in 1988, which was a presidential election year, she did a traineeship in an agency specializing in crisis communication and she had the chance to meet the right people. At the age of 23, she began work at the newspaper, Profession politique, before joining Paris Match 2 years later.

Where is a woman's place in the world of journalism and above all, political journalism ? 

A political journalist's career is easier for a woman at the start but gets more complicated when it comes to promotion as she hits a glass ceiling. There are many more women out in the field getting information from the men they interview than those in management positions. A woman in journalism deserves to have access to more managerial positions. 

Valérie Trierweiler started as a reporter, then special correspondent for Paris Match. Yet her political articles turned out to be incompatible with her relationship with François Hollande. Paris Match made the logical decision to take her away from the political columns and move her to literary columns. She was well aware that this would be necessary and she was just as interested in the world of literature.  

At the same time, she worked at Direct 8 and hosted political programs such as Le Grand 8, Politiquement parlant and Portrait de campagne. Why was it that she could continue her political activities at Direct 8 and not at Paris Match ? Presenting television programs and writing columns are two different things. Writing requires more personal investment that presenting. There is a kind of screen that slides between the host and the person being interviewed which imposes more neutrality than in writing. Political opinions are less prominent. Writing a political article suggests personal input.

Why did she carry on working when she was living at the Elysée ? Did this do her a disservice ? 

She grew up with the idea that a woman must be financially independent. Her mother instilled this idea in her and it what the reason why she encouraged her to study.

So she carried on her professional work when she moved into the Elysee in order to stay financially independent and provide for her three sons. This choice was a surprise and positioned her as a modern First Lady. In fact, she stood out because she came from a working class family and she continued to work. Was she penalized by this choice ? François Hollande's election meant that Valérie Trierweiler could no longer host political programs yet she continued to present documentaries and write literary columns for Paris Match. Moreover, her column was given greater publicity. 

Furthermore, she told us a story about being a modern First Lady. While she was First Lady, she went shopping for trainers with her son. When she was at the check-out, the sales person asked her "Are you going to continue working ?". She held out her credit card and replied, "If I don't work, who is going to pay for these trainers ?". 

Why didn't she get involved in politics ?

She occasionally played with the idea yet she agrees that the political world is a cruel one. A politician is heavily criticized and the world of politics has become a difficult one. The slightest slip becomes the biggest buzz and that is all that remains in time : Today you need to be considerably brave to make a political commitment. 

Valérie Trierweiler is particularly engaged in associations. Why these good causes ? 

Valérie Trierweiler had a modest childhood and was helped by many people. Today she wants to return the favour by supporting those in need despite the fact that she admits she took a long time to commit. 

When she moved to the Élysée, Valérie chose to support the association, Secours populaire français. This association operates in France and in many foreign countries. It is important that solidarity goes beyond French borders. She is also godmother of an association for sports raids in aid of the fight against breast cancer, called Les Fidèles, as well as the Refuge, an association that helps young homosexuals who are kicked out of their homes. Her commitment is in line with a woman/child logic. She cannot stand the idea that a child can be born with a label on its forehead that says “0 chance”. She believes that it is important to help young people make their dreams come true yet some young people don't even have any dreams. She tells us about the time she went joined a mission with the Secours Populaire to take children to the sea for the first time in their lives. She was overwhelmed by these children who were overjoyed at the beauty of the sea. The association gave these children, who had never before seen the beauty of the coastline, a reason to dream.

What remains to be done to reach equal chances ?

Much has already been done but it is not enough. It is important to give some of one's time, to sponsor children or to give lessons as the Secours Populaire suggests. Passing on knowledge is very important in the eyes of Valérie Trierweiler who believes that you need to hold out a hand to children and offer them the chance to discover culture. The purpose is to open the way for future generations, to build parents' confidence and to show beauty to children. She encourages all young people to pass on and give back to those in need just like the way she was helped when she was young. 

Finally, it is important to break up the ghettos by giving everyone the same education and by sharing out teachers more fairly. 

Advice from Valérie Trierweiler for young people who are looking to commit to humanitarian or charity actions ?

"Go where you want to go and do it when you feel it's right, not because you feel you have to". This is the advice Valérie Trierweiler gave us. She feels that she has never really done much humanitarian fieldwork but she admires young people who are dedicated to good causes. It reminds her of a story about meeting a young woman on a humanitarian mission in Vietnam to treat children with malformations due to napalm.

Humanitarian activity is a major asset which allows people to discover the world as it is important to see how others live. It is through this discovery that we are enriched.

What role can women play today ?

"Your generation must overcome guilt and glass ceilings which my generation did not achieve" 

First of all, the question of feminism shouldn't exist today. Women must overcome guilt, glass ceilings, questions about time management and their priorities as women. Women should not act out of a sense of revenge against men, they should behave as equals. Women "have no time to lose". Women get to the essential and do not do things the same way men do. Women have a more humanitarian approach. If there is one thing to remember, it is that "no profession is worth sacrificing your private life, and don't forget to live your own life and your life as a woman". Love and maternity should not be forgotten as life goes by fast.

A woman's life is very concentrated over a decade in which everything happens at the same time : love life, maternity, professional life. Don't be overwhelmed and choose one particular direction. A woman's life is not easy because everything happens at the same time, so let's live our lives as women to the full.

"Go where you want to go, when you feel the time is right and not because you feel you have to."

"No profession is worth sacrificing your private life. Don't forget to live your own life and your life as a woman." 

Source: https://rdvc.fr/2021/03/24/rencontre-avec-valerie-trierweiler-femme-daujourdhui/