By C. Perera, JadeTimes News
The latest season of the Netflix series Emily in Paris introduces a surprising and more serious storyline dealing with sexual misconduct in the fashion industry. Known for its lighthearted tone, the show, created by Darren Star, shares thematic similarities with his previous hit Sex and the City Like SATC, which also addressed harassment in the fashion world in a 2002 episode, Emily in Paris delves into this issue in its fourth season.
In a fashion closet scene that echoes SATC, Emily’s friend Mindy stumbles upon the “buddy system” at a luxury fashion company, JVMA. The system, initiated by female employees, is intended to protect them from inappropriate behavior from Louis de Léon, the head of the company. This storyline references a previous allusion in season three about an inappropriate incident between Louis and Emily's boss, Sylvie, when she worked at JVMA. While Sylvie initially downplays the behavior as being from “a different time,” she ultimately decides to expose Louis when she learns he continues his abusive practices.
The show’s portrayal taps into broader issues in the French fashion industry, where the movement has struggled to gain the same momentum seen in other Western countries. Marian Kwei, editorial director of Story Magazine, attributes this to French cultural attitudes toward sex, which differ from those in American and British feminism. Despite the movement’s limited progress in France, several high profile figures in fashion, including Patrick Demarchelier and Jean Luc Brunel, have faced serious accusations, though with mixed outcomes.
The resistance to extends to France's film industry as well. In 2018, 100 female artists, including Portrait of a Lady on Fire actress Adèle Haenel, signed an open letter defending the freedom to "seduce and importune" as essential to sexual liberty. Haenel has since quit the industry in protest over its protection of alleged abusers, and allegations against prominent French actor Gérard Depardieu and others continue to surface.
In contrast, Emily in Paris tackles the issue of harassment within the context of its otherwise fantastical and glamorous portrayal of the fashion world. Though the show remains a largely light depiction, Sylvie’s decision to expose Louis signals a hopeful shift. Viewers might wish for the real world to follow this fictional example, with greater accountability for those in positions of power in the fashion industry.
