10 Common Myths or Stereotypes about French Men
Hoping to learn the common myths about French Men? This article lists ten that are often brought up when talking about French men.
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1. French men are arrogant and rude2. French men smoke a lot3. French men stink4. French men are too lazy5. French men are incredible lovers and kissers6. French men routinely have several lovers7. French men drink wine all the time8. French men love arts more than sports9. French men are effeminate10. French men hate AmericansHere are some FAQs about French Men MythsDo you know French men as well as you think you do? Whether you’re already living in France or planning a visit any time soon, knowing some of the common myths about them will give you better insight.
We all have our opinions and beliefs about what French men are like. But are they true or just myths? Find out below as we list and investigate ten myths about France’s male population.
1. French men are arrogant and rude
In some traveler polls asking who the rudest people in the world are, guess who came out near the top?
Yes, the French did.
While travelers love and adore Paris, apparently, it’s not the same case for its people. Stay a week or more in Paris and you will likely encounter a rude French man or two, but that doesn’t mean it’s true for everyone else.
French men come off as rude not because they are inherently that way but because of the language barrier and cultural differences. Take for instance interrupting while someone else is still talking. That is deemed rude in other countries but, in France, that’s just the way it is. The French just tend to talk over one another and they also love to defend themselves. While that comes off as arrogant to many, defending your stance or belief in any argument is a character trait that is considered strong in the country.
The Verdict: PARTLY TRUE, PARTLY MYTH
2. French men smoke a lot
I know we’ve all seen movies where a Frenchman is having a smoke. Sure, some French men are perpetual smokers with a cigarette always in hand, but that doesn’t justify the stereotype that the majority, if not all, French men are heavy smokers.
When talking about countries with the most smokers or highest annual cigarette consumption, France is not even on the top 10 list. Instead, those who topped the notorious list were European countries such as Russia, Serbia, Greece and Bulgaria. In 2013, cigarette sales dropped by 7.6%—that’s about 4 billion less cigarettes than the previous year.
The significant decrease was partly attributed to more French people turning to electronic cigarettes instead.
To further debunk the myth, let’s bring in some statistics into the picture. In terms of the number of cigarettes smoked by each adult per year, Serbia comes out the champion with 2,869 followed closely by Bulgaria with 2,822 then Greece with 2,795 and Russia with 2,786. We could go on and on, but we wouldn’t see France until the 59th rank.
France’s consumption is 854 per adult annually. Compared with the top ranks, it’s considerably lower which means people should just stop caricaturing the French people as the epitome of smoking public.
The Verdict: MYTH
3. French men stink
Whoever started the myth that French men stink was just jealous. Ha! We all know how the French are known for their kisses, culinary masterpieces, intellect and exceptional romantic flair. Now, who wouldn’t covet that?
Seldom, if not at all, will you encounter a Parisian who smells bad. In fact, they are some of the few people in the world who look clean and smell the part too.
But just for the sake of argument, the idea that the French smell can probably be associated with the people’s smoking habit and fondness for aromatic wine, cheeses and food. Cigarette smoke is certainly smelly as well as some cheeses with strong aroma that other people aren’t used to.
The Verdict: MYTH
4. French men are too lazy
When a US tire company chief executive calls an entire nation lazy, does that make the stereotype true? Maybe not, maybe yes…But they at least have their basis, right?
Now the question that begs to be answered… What made him label the French as too lazy, work-shy, inefficient and unmotivated?
From an economic standpoint, French men are deemed lazy because they get paid high wages but they only work three hours a day. That observation, or more like a rant, is from a US tire company chief executive delivered to France’s industry minister in a letter. In that same letter, the executive further criticized that the French have one hour for breaks and lunch, three hours for work and three hours for chitchats. Put that way, that does sound like French men are indeed lazy.
But don’t go making any conclusions just yet.
On another end of the spectrum are claims that French men are, in fact, among the most efficient and productive people in the world. They may work fewer hours than most developed nations but the country’s economy and high standard of living may be proof that productivity is also part of the people’s work ethic. Despite working fewer hours, France still manages to stay on par with its neighbors.
The Verdict: PARTLY TRUE, PARTLY MYTH
5. French men are incredible lovers and kissers
Aside from the iconic Eiffel Tower, what is France famous for? The world famous, amorous French kiss, of course. Not only is it considered a timeless gesture of affection but it is also dubbed as the most passionate kiss there is. Kissing in France is more than an act. It is an art form that French men more than willingly and happily indulge even in public.
With that in mind, there is truth to the myth that French men are great lovers and kissers. It doesn’t imply that they are above the rest though, just that they are really expressive and passionate when it comes to romanticism and showing love.
The Verdict: TRUE or not? (I am French, so I am biased)
6. French men routinely have several lovers
Given the world’s presumption that the French have some God-given sex appeal and talent for romance, it seems logical to believe the myth that French men’s favorite sport other than football is having several lovers or mistresses at the same time.
But is it really true?
For the sake of comparison, let’s see how the French fared compared with their neighbors. After the much-publicized affair of President François Hollande, a poll was conducted throughout Europe.
With 55% of males confirming they’ve had sexual affairs with other people other than the one they’re in a relationship with, the verdict points to the French and Italian men as top philanderers. Behind French and Italian men come the Brits at 42%.
The poll seems to feed the age-old myth, although having had an affair at some point is not the same as routinely juggling several lovers at once, and such polls are hardly scientific. Even so, 45% of men in France say they remain faithful to their lady loves and wives.
The Verdict: PARTLY TRUE, PARTLY MYTH
7. French men drink wine all the time
Given that France produces many of the world’s finest wines, it’s safe to presume that its people also drink lots of them. You are wrong to presume that.
There’s no denying the fact that though French men are considered rude, arrogant and snobs, they are also the world’s best wine connoisseurs. When they drink their wines, they do it like it’s an art. They do it slow, with care and much love. That doesn’t make today’s French men avid wine drinkers though.
Back in 1980, the French people loved to drink their wines with meals. In fact, 50% of the population drinks it every day while 30% drink it once or twice a week. Fast forward 30 years later, the number has significantly decreased to 17% drinking every day and 45% drinking once or twice a week.
It goes to show that lifestyles in France have changed. And riding along in that change are French men not drinking as much wine as the previous generations did.
The Verdict: FALSE
8. French men love arts more than sports
Just because French men have a fondness for art doesn’t mean they love it more than sports. French men are simply well rounded people. Sports, in reality, are very much a part of the country’s cultural heritage.
It has a long history that goes way back and some of the most popular sports that the French go crazy about are tennis, football, cycling, rugby, handball and basketball.
If Americans consider sports their religion, so do many of France’s men. Two of the most popular sports events that happen in the country every year are the French Open and Tour de France.
The country’s national football team has also won the World Cup twice (in 1998 and 2018), a clear indication of the people’s love affair with sports.
The Verdict: MYTH
9. French men are effeminate
This is another myth with an ounce of truth to it. Compared with the stereotype of the rugged, masculine American, French men can come across as effeminate. This is not to say that there are no masculine French men. It’s just that the country’s culture encourages the men to embrace their feminine side more openly.
In America, men showing their feminine side are sometimes seen as weak or judged unfairly. In France, it’s another story altogether which is why French men are more vocal about their love for art and romance. Wearing pink shirts in public is common. Just as common, among friends and family, is la bise, the greeting kiss on the cheek. It is, in fact, a widespread custom.
The Verdict: PARTLY TRUE, PARTLY MYTH
10. French men hate Americans
In the same manner that Americans criticize French men, French men also do their own criticizing of Americans and other nationalities. They would even go as far as using Americans as the butt of their jokes.
It’s witty humor that may be seen as hostile or sarcastic but it is what it is – a joke designed to elicit laughter for those who understand it. These kinds of puns or humor shouldn’t be construed as hatred because French men do not hate Americans. In fact, many of the younger generations even dream of living in America.
So yes, it’s foolish to think that there is some kind of hatred going on between these two groups. Dislike is a more appropriate word if we are going to tackle political differences and issues.
But that’s a topic too broad and sensitive to be discussed thoroughly here. For now, we’ll just settle for the French and Americans enjoying banter and heated debates against each other from time to time.
The Verdict: FALSE
Quite a list of French man characteristics and myths, right?
Here are some FAQs about French Men Myths
Are the French really romantic?
France is considered to be one of the most romantic countries on Earth, perhaps because of their relationship with sensuality and passion. All intimacy is considered beautiful, and any way to show their love is valid. In fact, don’t be surprised if a French man tries to contact you immediately after getting your number; this is their way of expressing interest. Openly saying that they like you is nothing to raise eyebrows at in France.
This freedom to express their affection is what makes the French so romantic, as they won’t shy from telling you how they feel about you.
Are French guys better in bed?
Many countries have restrictions in expressing sexual love, so there is a tendency to consider that as the first and best way to share intimacy with a loved one.
But in France, like with alcohol, the open attitude and lack of taboo with sex means that there is less obsession with sexual acts, and more appreciation of the smaller sensual things. No stone is left unturned, and if affection means being more attentive and open in bed, then yes, perhaps French men are better in bed. Don’t take it from me, though, I have no clue!
Are French guys faithful?
As the article mentioned, a poll conducted across Europe found that more than half of the French men surveyed had had sexual affairs with people they weren’t in a relationship with. As such, unless it is an open relationship or an exception from the statistics, French men are, by that poll at least, not the most faithful. Be careful out there!
Do French guys kiss on the first date?
The thing with the French, and European dating in general, is that there aren’t any strict rules about dating etiquette. As such, does a kiss on the first date matter?
Expatica.com surveyed over 500 expats about dating in Europe, and one expat said, “the timescale between the first date and having sex in France could be anything from 20 years to 20 seconds.” People don’t tend to date complete strangers; you usually know each other, and whatever happens, happens.
That being said, only 32 percent of the French reported on a romantic networking platform that they would kiss on the first date, compared to over half of the Americans, Australians, and Canadians. Of course, this doesn’t count the greeting kiss on the cheek that is common in Europe!
