RUDN Journal of Political ScienceRUDN Journal of Political Science2313-14382313-1446Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN University)8922The Riddle of «The French Exception»: the Reason and Consequences of the Gender Asymmetry in PoliticZhukovaO IInstitute of Political Sciences in Bordeaux-Institute of Political Sciences in Bordeaux150120091647109092016Copyright © 2009,2009The gender asymmetry is the one the characteristics for all countries of the world. The uniqueness of the French situation consists in many factors which affected considerable the question of the establishment of gender balance in the society in comparison with other European countries. In the majority of French researches and works, we can find the phenomenon of «the French exception» or «the French specificity» which is one of prominent features of the gender situation in France. At all stages of historical development of the French society the women right of presence at the sphere of politics was persevering by various discrimination mechanisms. In what French «specificity» consists?