Joint Interview: Élodie Goëssant and Sébastien Richez

A joint interview with Élodie Goëssant, who holds a Ph.D. in art history and serves as curator of historical collections, and Sébastien Richez, who holds a Ph.D. in contemporary history and serves as strategic analyst for the Committee for the History of La Poste.

In early 2025, a new section of the permanent exhibition opened at the La Poste Museum to highlight the work and role played by women within the Group over the past two centuries. This little-known chapter of history has been brought to light by the Committee for the History of La Poste and the historians who serve on it.

We met with Élodie Goëssant, who holds a Ph.D. in art history and serves as curator of historical collections, and Sébastien Richez, who holds a Ph.D. in contemporary history and serves as strategic analyst for the Committee for the History of La Poste. Joint interviews.

For the first time since its reopening in 2019, the La Poste Museum invites visitors to explore, as part of its permanent exhibition, previously unseen graphic art and photographs dedicated to the history of women’s roles at La Poste.

In what way does showcasing these works constitute an event in and of itself?

Élodie Goëssant: “This new exhibition is part of a broader movement currently sweeping through society as a whole—namely, to highlight the significant contribution women have made to the country’s social and economic growth, particularly in the workplace.”

Sébastien Richez: “We couldn’t avoid talking about it because it’s a social issue that can no longer be ignored—especially not by cultural and museum institutions that are so deeply rooted in the topic of women in the workforce, such as La Poste. It’s crucial for the historical narrative, but it’s also important for La Poste’s employees—both men and women—to feel that they belong to a company that values and recognizes the work of women throughout its history.”

What can you find in this new section?

Sébastien Richez : “A true testament to the feminization of the workforce at La Poste (Post, Telegraph, and Telephone, Ed.), which is in itself a relatively recent phenomenon in a long-standing patriarchal society. At that time, it was men who dictated the rules and imposed them on women, and when they needed women, it was on their own terms. We thus see the gradual presence of women in the postal service dating back to the Ancien Régime, including the hiring of widows of elite men who had fallen in military campaigns to run the country’s smallest post offices. The massive replacement of men who had gone to the front with women during the world wars, and their return to the home following the end of those two wars… It wasn’t until the second half of the 20th century that recognition began to take hold, and gender diversity became the norm in civil service exams by the late 1960s. In the 1970s, female mail carriers were still very much in the minority; today, 54% of those in the profession are women. In 50 years of sociological change within a single profession, that’s a huge shift.”

How did this project come about?

Sébastien Richez : “It was both the momentum generated during the tenure of former President Jean-Paul Bailly and his chief of staff, Dominique Blanchecotte, in the early 21st century that led us, as the History Committee, to take on this topic. In the early 2000s, the leadership duo quickly demonstrated their interest in the origins of women’s presence in the postal service, as well as their desire to enrich the subject through advances in historical research. The La Poste History Committee was therefore approached in 2004, alongside historians specializing in the history of gender in the workplace—first Sylvie Schweitzer, then Peggy Bette—to contribute the key aspects of this knowledge within the field of social history. It has been a long journey, as several steps are essential to bringing this type of project to fruition. First and foremost, it requires the company to recognize the importance of addressing this topic, as well as the conviction and capacity to provide us with the resources to carry out our work. Then, of course, time must be dedicated to research and the production of knowledge.”

Elodie Goëssant: “For its part, the museum sought to expand its section dedicated to women’s work following the rediscovery of several previously unseen archival collections, particularly photographic ones. The museum also devoted time to research, as Fabienne Maillard (who holds a Ph.D. in art history and serves as curator of the photographic and audiovisual collection) and I conducted a new, in-depth study of our collections through the lens of women’s history. This allowed us to select a cohesive collection that resonates with the historical research conducted by the Committee for the History of La Poste. Historical research and heritage studies come together here to shed light on—and invite the general public to discover—an essential aspect of postal history and, more broadly, the social history of our country.”

What does he say about La Poste’s commitment?

Sébastien Richez: “This is a continuation of a commitment we’ve upheld over the past two decades, one that positions equality as a true strategic priority for the company. This was evident when La Poste became a key participant and contributor to the Women’s Forum in Deauville (2005–2016), which promotes the advancement, leadership, and managerial authority of women in the workplace. It was also evident in 2006 when the company received the “Equality” label awarded by AFNOR and the Ministry of Labor, recognizing its efforts to combat pay inequalities. And today, it is reflected in the creation of a collective narrative.”

Élodie Goëssant: “There is indeed a long-term commitment on the part of the postal service. As with any company or government agency, there are times of progress and times of setbacks, but from this perspective, there is still positive progress toward ever-greater equality. This study of women’s contributions to the company also demonstrates how the company committed early on to issues related to the integration of female employees. While postal jobs gradually became more female-dominated, leading to full gender parity in the 1970s, this integration also posed a major challenge for the government agency and, later, for the company. It was necessary not only to address the justified demands of female employees regarding equal pay and access to leadership positions but also to support them in the face of reluctance and opposition from male staff by defusing tensions, facilitating dialogue, persuading, and uniting the workforce.
This is an HR policy that the company continues to pursue through numerous initiatives, such as the creation of the “Un Une” Parity Network in 2019, which aims to increase the representation of women among strategic executives and senior leaders.”