Press Release, 29.05.2015

On Thursday, May 28, YABLOKO Gender faction held a meeting with Commander Christine de Saint Genois de Grand Breucq, France, Doctor of law and human rights activist, civil aviation pilot, who became one of the world’s first women aircraft commanders.

Christine de Saint Genois spoke about the fight against discrimination against women and bans on profession and the role of women in politics on the example of her way.

In her career of a pilot and commander, Christine often faced manifestations of sexism.

“Men just could not imagine a woman in the cockpit,” Christine said.

Difficulties emerged already in the conclusion of the contract.

“I told the commission consisting entirely of men: do not look at my legs, look at my resume,” Christine said.

Christine became a pilot in the USA and not in France.

“In the United States there is a law against discrimination and it is easier to defend the rights of women there. I filed a lawsuit on discrimination against women in hiring pilots and I won, ” Christine noted.

From that moment, the new period began when women were hired as pilots, but the problems were not over.

“I could not get married because of fear that the employer could fire me on the pretext of the imminent birth of children. I also did not go on vacation, as I was afraid that I will replaced, ” Christine de Saint Genois stressed.

Christine created Association of European Women Pilots to help women pilots to defend their rights in the professional sphere. Since 2007, Christine de Saint Genois has been active in the UN Commission on the Status of Women, and has been also involved in the work of the United Nations on human rights and children. She was an ambassador to the Global Summit of Women in Berlin in 2007 and in Beijing in 2010. She is President of the Coordinating Council of the European Women – Civil Aviation Pilots. Vice-President of European Liberal Women network.

“There are many problems, in France inclusive. Over the past seven years, more than 70,000 young women were subjected to the procedure of mutilation, which is prohibited by law in France”, Christine said.

Exceptional merits of Christine de Saint Genois is aviation were marked by the Legion of Honor award, her name is engraved on the wall of honor of civil aviation pilots by the Aviation Museum in Seattle and Washington. Christine de Saint Genois was one of the first women to overcome the discriminatory ban on the profession of a civil aviation pilot and began work on regular lines. Her pilot experience is 40 years. She worked as a pilot in the airlines Aéroamerica, Airtrans, UPS (including branches in Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, etc.)

She famed France by the fact of becoming in 1978 the world’s first female commander of the legendary Boeing 707. Then she was the commander of the crews of Boeing 727, 737, 747 (Jumbo) and 777. She was the fourth woman in the world – aircraft commander.

“You have to believe in what you are doing and move towards the goal. It will be difficult, and sometimes impossible, but faith in your cause will help you, ” such an advice Christine de Saint Genois gave to the audience.