Solitaires, Solidaires Conflict and Confluence in Women’s Writings in French

Solitaires, Solidaires stems from the 2013 Women in French conference, which celebrated twenty-five years since the creation of the network of the same name, and brought together the Women in French UK and Women in French in Scotland meetings, which had, until then, been running en solitaire on each side of the border. It therefore seemed opportune to reflect on the theme of female solidarity, its various shapes and constructions, and its meaning. Studies included in this bilingual volume focus on the representation of female solidarity and solitude in French and Francophone society, literature, journalism and history, covering texts ranging from the 17th to the 21st centuries. The various contributions explore how the construction of female solidarities and identities has depended not only on networks, dialogues and correspondences, but also (and often simultaneously) on isolation, confrontations and rivalry between women, and on unconventional representations of femininity and motherhood.