Rose Cordero, French Vogue Mar 2010If I were a woman of color, I would be thrilled that Rose Cordero headlines this month’s French Vogue magazine, only the second African American to grab the spotlight since Liya Kebede in 2002.

I was so impressed with the whole editorial, that the model’s skin color escapes me. For me Cordero is a grand testament to the Smart Sensuality woman. She is fierce in a much softer, sensual way but she’s no damsel.

Actually Carine Roitfeld tends not to do damsels because it doesn’t resonate with the identity of French women who are smart and willing to express their opinions and convictions about life, liberty and the pursuit of selfhood.

Does that make French women self-absorbed egomaniacs?

No. They’re activists in ways that makes American women look like frothy cupcakes.

Note that some American women, especially older actresses and models, are trying to light a torch under American women, inspiring us to be more Frenchie as global activists not only driven my religous goals, but equally humanitarian once.

The majority of American women activists are affiliated with fundamentalist Christian religions and the Catholic church. In France, an activist spirit is part of a French woman’s personality.

To be accurate in reporting, there are tales that New York women are envied by French women, because we are such perfectionists in our beauty. Reality is that with all their style, French women have always enjoyed a wider focus.

Turning to the World Economic’s Forum for insights, France is listed #18 on the global list of countries that effectively are making progress for women. America is #31, and not because we haven’t more to do.

Here are comparisons between French and American women in four categories that measure how the country utilizes and invests in women. The lower # is better.

Total Score

France 18|America 31

Economic Participation and Opportunity Score

France 62|America 17

Educational Attainment Score

France 1|America 1

Health and Survival Score

France 1|America 40

Political Empowerment Score

France 16|America 61

Progress Since 2006

2006

France 70|America 22

2009

France 18|America 31

While France is investing in promoting and developing women, America is falling back.

Personally, I believe this situation is related to many topics — including women’s lack of political interest in advancing themselves.

Generally speaking the women of Europe are significantly ahead of American women on most major measures because religion doesn’t govern politics in their countries.

When one of the strongest voices in a political system is based on Catholic and Fundamentalist views that say ‘men rule’, this outcome of not promoting women is expected.

Writing aggressively on the fact that American women are losing the gains of women’s liberation in the 1970s, I will make every effort to share why I feel strongly that science and research support my viewpoint.

On many fronts — I haven’t even written about French women having a better body image and love of self at 45 — I take my chapeau off to French women.

Perhaps you can do some missionary work among American women and get us in gear again. Anne