54

‪Based on a qualitative survey (interviews and ethnography) conducted in a declining rural area of eastern France, this article addresses the question of the traditional roles assigned to women in rural areas that are characterised by devotion to domestic and family order. It examines the case of two women, one from a working-class background, the other from an upper-class background, who set out to break free from these norms by choosing to adopt an alternative femininity, in other words economic autonomy and emotional independence from men, even if this meant excluding themselves from local social circles. In a countryside in decline, where social ties are still very strong, rejecting the traditional feminine role, considered the norm, is not without its difficulties.‪