Denise Bombardier, a great feminist? Throughout her career, the journalist and columnist has been both praised and criticized for speaking out on women and their rights.
“She was a determined, courageous woman, a role model for many. But she was also a polarizing woman whose right-wing and ethical feminist positions were heavily criticized,” says Isabelle Boisclair, professor of literary and cultural studies at the University of Sherbrooke.
Sudden death of mr.Me Tributes flooded social networks when Bombardier died on Tuesday at the age of 82. She is called “leading”, “strong woman”. We emphasize their generosity, their humor, their kindness, their intelligence.
A holder of a doctorate in sociology from the Sorbonne in Paris, Denis Bombardier soon became a headliner at Radio-Canada. She worked there for more than 30 years and became the first woman to produce and host a public affairs TV show there. When he left the public broadcaster in the early 2000s, he devoted himself to writing books and writing history. especially she expresses her opinion Duty then until 2012 Montreal Journal Since 2014
“She is part of a generation of women who fought for their place in journalism and paved the way for others. “She always stood her ground, defending her views against all odds,” says journalist and author Claudia Larochelle.
Like many, she recalls her famous piece in March 1990 in an interview on the set of a french show apostrophe, moderated by Bernard Pivot. In front of an audience of nearly three million, young Dennis Bombardier single-handedly confronted author Gabriel Matzneff, who boasted of his exploits with minors. “I, Mr. Matzneff, find it pathetic,” she replied, criticizing the fact that in France, literature “can serve as an excuse” for such beliefs. Then to add: “We know that old gentlemen charm children with sweets; Monsieur Matzneff charms her with his reputation. ,
“Denise was never afraid to speak her mind, sometimes at the cost of her own discomfort. She ran into the pile. Not to show off, but because there were reasons to defend,” says her great friend Liz Ravery.
“There are very few women who have the courage like her,” says journalist and author Pascale Navarro, who is still haunted by the confrontation with Gabriel Matzneff. However, Denis Bombardier was to be the target of many criticisms and insults in later years. At least, until the Matzneff case came to light in 2020 with the publication of Vanessa Springora’s book, Permission.
Whether through her speeches or her career in the media, in the opinion of many interviewees, Denise Bombardier was the embodiment of feminism. Even though he has never claimed this label. “He is not a person who likes to define himself and even less to be defined. But you don’t have to read all her books to know that she was a feminist,” underlines Lise Ravery.
a polarizing woman
“He sometimes lacked solidarity and kindness towards young feminists and young journalists,” Claudia Larochelle sighed. In 1998, Denis Bombardier accused the young journalists of being poorly prepared for interviews, prompting a scathing retort from Marie-Louise Arsenault, who was working there at the time. Glow, “She was targeting my generation, her words were harsh, I found it revolting”, admits M.Me Larochelle.
By projecting conservative views, Denise Bombardier has alienated the feminist majority, more on the left, Professor Boisclair underlines. “The feminist movement, as elsewhere, is above all a socialist movement. It is a leftist feminism, more inclusive, more open to free choice of subjects and self-determination,” she says.
she remembers the controversy that mMe Bombardier in 2017 condemned the fact that a trans woman – Gabrielle Bouchard – finds herself at the head of the Fédération des Femmes du Québec. She also gives examples of her opposition to gay marriage or her pro-secular position.
Frances Dupuis-Derry, who teaches political science and feminist studies at UQAM, states that the columnist “shared the malevolent thesis of anti-feminists that feminism has caused terrible disarray among men”. She argues, “Such talk is not only wrong, but it also undermines the legitimacy of feminism.”
“He who loves well punishes well,” says her friend Liz Ravery. He said such things to women which are not pleasant to hear, startling, but they are necessary. She was not looking for a consensus.