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France: The Government’s Contempt is Palpable. [1]

['Greg Dworkin', 'Bill In Portland Maine', 'Belinda Ridgewood', 'Chloris Creator']

Date: 2026-10-08  

As is so often the case with the French Government when dealing with those it regards as inferior [the Young and Foreigners], its first recourse is contempt. This attitude then pervades general society.

French high school protests: ‘Young people are not fooled by the discrimination and contempt that society directs at them’ -Le Monde.

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/campus/article/2026/10/08/french-high-school-protests-young-people-are-not-fooled-by-the-discrimination-and-contempt-that-society-directs-at-them_6758374_11.html Read for free here: https://archive.is/mtd9c

Sociologist and child psychiatrist Laelia Benoit analyzes the discourse surrounding high school student protests through the lens of ‘childism,’ a term that refers to the set of prejudices against minors based on their age, which she introduced to France

From the very beginning of the high school student movement that has been shaking France for the past two weeks, disparaging comments about the young people taking part have intensified. The government, for its part, dismissed the movement as nothing more than an issue of “urban violence.” What does this contempt for young people really mean? Could it be that they are a socially discriminated minority? Does something like “childism” exist, in the same way as “sexism” or “racism”? These are the questions raised by Laelia Benoit, child psychiatrist and sociologist at the Yale Child Study Center, affiliated with the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), and author of Infantisme (“Childism,” 2023)

Personally, I find it absolutely typical in society at large, everywhere I have lived.

Childism is defined as a set of systematic prejudices and discrimination against minors (children and adolescents), simply because of their age. From the very beginning of this movement, all the usual mechanisms of childism appeared in certain political and media discourse, which we had already studied in relation to youth climate protests. One of the most common arguments is that these young people are being manipulated by forces beyond their control, especially political ones. Assuming that a high school student cannot think for themselves and that they are necessarily being used by adults, social media or political parties is first and foremost a way of denying them any ability to act politically.

Have a read: The free link is available above.

One of the first things you learn in this life is contempt [because it hurts] for your thoughts, often brushed aside with “what do you know, you will find out one day”. yada yada..

I find the young [when no phones are involved] a real pleasure to talk with, as their conversations are not hindered by the detritus of personal experience [prejudices], and the conversation actually develops into something interesting. The great thing about young minds is their capacity and willingness [with patience] to learn. However, if you start with contempt, you will get what you deserve, and that may well be out of proportion to the offense given.

When they justifiably complain about the lack of teachers and classroom conditions, you are obliged to listen; their future is at risk, not yours.

If those with power demand respect, the last thing they should be teaching/demonstrating is contempt.

My education in Scotland, whilst privileged, was to show everyone respect; it was drummed into our young minds. Contempt, on the other hand, had to be earned by those with power. Even Trump had to earn my contempt, and he has strived hard to do so with admirable success.

So my suggestion is: rather than not listing and tut-tutting when your disrespect leads to actions you don’t like, next time, bloody listen.

The same thing goes for sexism, racism, etc etc.

Just a thought.

A Morning Muse

~A

As always

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/10/8/800109177/community/france-high-school-the-contempt-is-palpable/

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