No Es Facil Ser Hombre/It's Not Easy Being a Man

by Christiane Collange

A female journalist and author provides a close-up study of what it means to be a man, candidly discussing male attitudes toward their problems, dreams, work, sexuality, children, love, and women

Paperback

Published January 1, 1986

About the author

Christiane Collange was a French journalist and author known for her insightful exploration of women’s lives, family dynamics, and intergenerational relationships. A graduate of Sciences Po and a member of the influential Servan-Schreiber family, she began her journalism career at Madame Express, where she became editor-in-chief at just 23. She later held key editorial roles at L’Express, Le Jardin des modes, and contributed as a columnist to Elle, Europe 1, Télématin, and La Chaîne Info.
Writing under the name Christiane Collange, she published a wide range of books that often challenged traditional gender roles and highlighted the evolving place of women in society. Her early work Madame et le management introduced the idea of applying business strategies to family life. In Chers enfants, she reflected on motherhood as a central source of meaning, and in Nous, les belles-mères, she examined the complex dynamics between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law. With La Deuxième Vie des femmes, she coined the term "maturescence" to describe the empowered phase of a woman’s life after menopause, a time she viewed as one of renewed purpose and autonomy.
Throughout her career, Collange combined journalistic rigor with a deeply personal voice, making her a key figure in postwar French media and feminist discourse. Her contributions were recognized with several honors, including the Prix Vérité and the title of Officier de l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres.