A word of caution for feminist-decertifiers? The case of France’s racial disestablishment

Abstract

This thinkpiece studies France’s relationship to race/ethnicity through a feminist lens. It explores the French government’s unique approach to its citizens’ identities which has effectively resulted in the disestablishment (or decertification) of their race/ethnicity. The history and politics of this situation are here evaluated through the lens of a feminist critical legal reform called “decertification”. Investigating this case provides a unique, country-level perspective on techniques of governmental deracialisation and insights gleaned from the research are of interest to international feminists interested in the role of identity-markers in activism.