Emmanuel Macron's wife confronts sexism, misogyny in France
CNN)Politicians, journalists and her own daughter have stepped forward in defense of Brigitte Trogneux, wife of French President-elect Emmanuel Macron, in response to a series of sexist and misogynistic slurs against her.
Many of the unwelcome comments have focused on the fact that Trogneux -- age 64 with seven grandchildren -- is 24 years her husband's senior. She famously went from being Macron's teacher to his partner, and eventually his wife. Now she is France's next first lady.
Are we sexist for gawking at Macron's marriage?
Macron's convincing victory over far-right leader Marine Le Pen in last weekend's election appears to have encouraged the wave of sexist comment.
On Sunday, French Republican party lawmaker Jacques Domergue joked on Facebook, "We have a new president who is a younger model of the previous one. Except that the previous one lived with a woman who was his daughter's age and the new one with a woman who is his mother's age."
And on Wednesday, the front cover of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo carried a cartoon showing 39-year-old Macron resting a hand on the pregnant stomach of his wife, with the caption: "He's going to work miracles!"
To put things in perspective, US President Donald Trump is 24 years older than Melania Trump, but few people are making a fuss about their age gap.