Overview

• The 1965 reform took effect on February 1, 1966, declaring married women legally equal to their husbands and freeing them from needing spousal consent to open bank accounts, sign work contracts or manage their own property.
• On July 13, 2025, French media revisited contemporaneous coverage that dubbed the law a revolution against Napoleonic-era restrictions on women’s rights.
• Interviews at a Saint-Jacques-de-la-Lande nursing home captured vivid memories from women like 93-year-old Maria, who credited the law with granting her first independent bank account.
• Observers note that despite six decades of change, certain civil code provisions and societal attitudes still hinder women’s ability to build and control personal finances.
• The anniversary prompted discussions among legal experts and activists about updating France’s civil code to close remaining loopholes in marital financial autonomy.