The Truth About French Men!
French Men Quiz
True or False?
French Men make the best lovers.
French Men admire and pursue women who radiate femininity.
French Men are well-read and knowledgeable and appreciate a good debate.
French Men are more comfortable with their feminine side.
French Men are more likely to be unfaithful.
Omar Sy, the leading man in the French series Lupin
I have little empirical evidence with French men romantically. (I HAVE dated two lovely French Canadian men. Not sure if that counts) ). But my first experience with French men was as a young woman and stereotypical of some of the negative perceptions at the time and perhaps still true.
As a teaching assistant in a French school in my twenties, I was hit on regularly by the male teachers, all of whom were ten years older, and married. I succeeded in deflecting their interest except this one time.
I was developing some pictures with the photography teacher in the darkroom (was I really that naive?) when he suddenly reached out, pulled me towards him and started to kiss me. It was right out of a movie but without a plot and, ah yes, my reaction was French men know how to kiss. (Although I admit my experience with that was also somewhat limited).
So, ok, I should have pushed him away and expressed outrage, but of course, I didn’t. Come on — I was young, and who knew when the next Frenchman would ever kiss me again! I savoured the moment and drew it out as long as I could — but then made sure that it never happened again. He too avoided me after that.
French men are more romantic? Love the dog sitting at the table!
In general, I do think that French men tend to notice and appreciate women in ways that can be most gratifying and they are hard-wired to flirt, but after all these years, now that I am no longer that nubile naive young woman, for fun, I thought I would poll those of you out there about French men.
So you might want to review the quiz above and give me your thoughts.
Do French men dress well?
Some are more creative than others!
Dressing in pants that look like his pyjamas is somehow more chi in Paris?
Would we all agree that perhaps perceptions of French women have long held an allure to many men?
But most of those attributes tend to be positive and of an empowering nature (chic, elegant, confident, strong and sexy).
Can the same be said about French men? (And has this changed with the younger generation changed?)
Historically, I can think of more French women that I admire (Marie Curie, Joan of Arc, Coco Chanel, Simone de Beauvoir, Catherine Deneuve) than French men (Charles de Gaulle, Yves St. Laurent, Andre Gide and Albert Camus (both Nobel peace prize winners), Claude Monet, Philipe Noiret (actor).
However, this may be because I search out more for female role models than I do men.
The Truth About French Men Workshop
I realize there is a lot to unpack here, and that some of you are married or partnered with French men, so what do you think about developing one of my Paris Fan Club Workshops around the Truth about French Men?
What kind of guests should I invite? Experts, some of you, a couple of French men?
Would love your input! Instructions are at the bottom of this blog.
Book of the Month
Dawn Veazie from Westmont Illinois
With a Level Two or Three Membership to the Paris Fan Club.com, one can choose a Memoir about Paris or France which I send out at no extra charge.
Dawn Veazie picked Waking Up in Paris, Overcoming Darkness in the City of Light by Sonia Choquette, a great read and my February Book of the month.
You may know Sonia as a spiritual teacher and intuitive guide. She begins her memoir devastated by the unexpected end of her decades-long marriage and decides to relocate to Paris, the scene of many happy memories from her life as a student and young mother.
Arriving in the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo massacre in 2015, Sonia found Paris as traumatized by this unforeseen event as she had been by her divorce. Together, over the following years, she and the city she loves begin a journey of healing that involves deep soul-searching and acceptance of a new, sometimes uncomfortable, reality. Inspiring and you will fly through it.
You can check out this and other memoirs on the Paris Book Club page by CLICKING HERE.
Next Workshop
Coming Soon!
Provence in Springtime!
When?
Wednesday, March 20th
12:30 pm ET/9:30 am Pacific
6:30 pm Paris/5:30 pm London
With our Guide Dee Pocquette
There is no better time to visit the south of France and in particular Provence, than in the spring! The air is fresh, the flowers are starting to bloom, the light is enchanting, and of course, there is so much to do and see.
So I have invited as my co-host Dee Pocquette of Jackdaw Journeys who has been exclusively designing tours to personally guide people to the hidden gems of Provence for over a decade.
Her clientele are women like us, and Dee promises to take us on a virtual tour of a week’s visit where we explore the provencal landscape of hilltop villages, castles, lesser-known markets, hotels, and restaurants, even a boat cruise in the Mediterranean.
If you are planning a trip there, or know very little about Provence and would like to know more, this is your chance to be seduced! And I guarantee, you will be seduced.
But you DO have to be a member of the Paris Fan Club.com to join us.
What’s the Paris Fan Club?
If you are new to this newsletter, you may not yet know about the Paris Fan Club.
This is an Annual Membership Program for those of you who cannot get enough of Paris, other parts of France and all things French. There are Three Levels of Membership to choose from and all levels include Five Interactive Workshops, A monthly French-themed resource, being entered into the Quarterly Draw for the French Gift Box, Giveaways of everything from French fashion items, or cooking classes, French-themed accessories, a Paris Travel Kit that you can take with you everywhere etc.
And even a Level One Membership you will get my Eiffel Tower Themed Luggage Tag, pen and keychain.
Check it all out at parisfanclub.com or by clicking HERE
And remember, you don’t have to go to Paris to enjoy the Paris Fan Club! I am all about bringing Paris and France without leaving your home.
French Kissing!
If you are behind on reading my blogs, you can go to www.womanofacertainageinparis.com to catch up.
But you can start with the one below that is related to today’s topic, where I was kissed by an Italian in Rome…
Read French Kissing by CLICKING HERE!
Please Leave Your Comments
and Questions Below
Where it says Leave a Comment
or Read the Comments.
That’s a wrap!
A la prochaine!
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Diana Bishop the founder of The Success Story Program and A Woman of a Certain Age in Paris as well as a well-known correspondent with over 25 years working for CTV, CBC News, and NBC News. She loves travel, writing, and all things Parisienne.
I guess I have led a sheltered life (so far) and have not experienced French Men! From the sound of things, I have missed out!!!
I don’t think you missed out Gretchen. But it is an interesting topic as we all have an image of what French are like and it would be an interesting topic to explore. Best to you, Diana
In general, my impression of men, French or not, is that they are people, and subject to the same issues of men anywhere. This means that some are wonderful, some are average, some are terrible.
That being said, I have limited experience with French men and more with French women, so I am not really able to evaluate cultural differences.
Do keep in mind that you and I are around the same age, and therefore as young women, we experienced perhaps more of the worst men can bring to women because our environment in the US and at that time was dismissive of women and frankly, treated us more like property. This was diminishing as I became a young woman, and has improved significantly since then. Thank goodness. So this begs the question, did these issues change in France as well? Not much? Somewhat?
I’ve never dated a French man, but my impression of every French man 8 met in France is that they are huge flirts! And they stare! They do it right in front of my husband lol. I knew this was part of the French culture going in, but it was an adjustment when it actually happened to me. Harmless flirting of how beautiful I was etc. It didn’t bother me. My sister Heather has a French boyfriend. Even he does it in front of her. Anyway, French men have the reputation of having multiple lovers and and affairs, although I don’t know if it is more than American men for example. I find French men more put together and fashionable than American men. That’s my opinion for what it’s worth.
Well as you can see, I tend to agree. It can be flattering … but unsettling at times as you have pointed out.
Thank you so mauch for this comment, Diana.
That is so true, Fran. People outside of France I have strong stereotypical impressions of French men that would be interesting to explore. The same way we have impressions of what French women are like … so I wonder how far back in history for instance these impressions go, where did it all start for instance and are they still as strong today with the younger generation. There is a comic in Paris who does a show about Parisians for instance, who swears that it is very hard for women to date French men as they feel with social media they have a wider scope to choose from now. That could be a worldwide phenomenon for sure but I wonder…
Best to you. Diana
Frenchmen. Now that’s a unique breed. Well worth pursuing.
I believe Marie Curie was Polish, not French
Hi Katy, Yes you are correct. However, she married a Fremch man and became a Fremch citizen so France took credit for her achievements.
Diana
I have had an attraction for French men for a very long time. I met and married a Suisse Frenchman in 1976, after working in a tiny town of Les Emibois which is north of Geneva. Then in 2001, I met my current husband who is from St. Jean Cap Ferat in South of France. We got married in 2007. He is definitely a romantic, but he doesn’t flirt with other women. He dresses very well, so impeccable and fashionable. He helps me choose my clothes. He loves to cook and drink fine wine. He is very critical of restaurants and good wine. Our friends always ask his opinion about wine. He loves to talk. He came to Los Angeles in 1971 to photograph race cars, and musicians in concert. He moved to Paradise CA with his wife and 3 children. Unfortunately his wife passed of colon cancer. He was single for many years before we met. For our honeymoon in 2007 he took me to Paris for 10 days. I love Paris and could see myself living there. He prefers south of France, but we will probably not move to France because of so much family here, but you never know.