By Dido Polo Monterrosa |
Bogotá (EFE) conception that one has of women, but it can make one think of her from other points of view.
“When I think of the term ‘the woman’ it is as if they erased (…) all of our faces because we are ‘the women,'” says De Francisco, who assures in an interview with EFE at the Bogotá International Book Fair ( FilBo) that the individuality of women disappears when referring to them in the singular.
The writer admits that, although in her book she presents herself as a confident, independent woman who “goes alone”, it is impossible to think without help, since “all thought is nourished by life, what is read, what what we see, what we feel” and that the intention is “to make a careful, solitary and as free reflection as possible”.
In “Margarita goes alone” (Lumen, 2023), a compilation of essays, columns, diaries and personal texts, the actress known for her leading role in the Colombian soap operas “Café, con aroma de mujer”, “Gallito Ramírez” and ” The sins of Inés de Hinojosa” addresses topics such as desire, the female body, public display, acting, her ideas about God and the concept of the “I”.
I flirt with feminism
De Francisco (Cali, 1965) does not consider herself a “feminist” because she is “quite critical” of some positions of the movement, but she claims to have “flirted with feminism” because she believes in “the voice of women, in their proposals and in a new way of thinking about them.
The author emphasizes that her relationship with feminism is a process in constant evolution and that she has no “fixed ideas” about it, since she acknowledges that she has changed her mind on several occasions and declared herself “in transit” in relation to this fight, a “difficult issue” that has caused controversy and problems in your life.
She also explains that her experience in a society that has politically constructed women has generated conflicts in her relationship with pleasure, eroticism and the perception of her body, for which she considers that the book can contribute to the discussion on feminism. on these topics.
The author believes that the female body has been objectified and sexualized in Colombian society: “I have experienced this judgment on the female body (…) firsthand” and “I also believe that men are victims of patriarchy.”
Opinion without contracts
After 15 years as a columnist in media such as the newspaper El Tiempo, the magazines Poder, SoHo and Ellas, the author moved away from “writing contracts” because for her “opinion without a pattern” is of great importance.
“Writing is an essential part of my need for expression,” says De Francisco, who says that this situation led her to seek the freedom to say what she thinks without restrictions.
He confesses that on occasions he has retracted his opinions and apologized for having said “nonsense”, but that does not prevent him from continuing to express himself freely.
“It is worth expressing yourself, even if you are wrong later,” she stresses, and defends the value of words, even if it means admitting mistakes and asking for forgiveness.
In this sense, the creation of her “desperiódico” and her book become spaces where she can express herself freely and where readers can reflect on their ideas without the immediacy of social networks.
Support for the Government of Petro
Her participation in the Colombian public debate made her an influential opinion leader on Twitter, from where she withdrew when her account had reached more than 2.6 million followers due to her closeness to President Gustavo Petro.
“I still believe in Petro’s project,” says De Francisco, who considers that the president is proposing a “paradigm change in every way” and believes that “the results of this change in mentality will be able to be seen.”
For the writer, the fight against climate change, one of Petro’s priorities, could have a profound impact on the economy, education and health in Colombia. However, she acknowledges that confronting economic power at home and in the world represents a significant challenge for the president.