A woman lying down on their back, in the middle of a sexual act with a man and, around them, three individuals exposing their genitals. This mural has adorned the walls of the medical interns’ rest room at the Vannes hospital in Brittany for years. But maybe not for long. According to West Franceit was the subject of an anonymous letter denouncing its sexist and pornographic nature, which led management to announce its withdrawal.
This is not the first time that these drawings of a sexual nature – present on the walls of many medical interns’ rest rooms – have sparked debate. In 2015, a mural depicting a gang rape between superheroes at the Clermont-Ferrand hospital hit the headlines for several weeks. Violent, sexist, anachronistic… Do these frescoes have their place in hospitals? In January, the Ministry of Health announced the withdrawal of all of these paintings “in a timetable that allows for consultation” with representatives of the interns. If they cannot reach an agreement, the regional health agencies (ARS) will be able to impose the removal of these paintings.
“A release”
On social networks, former interns deplore this directive. Some believe that these frescoes “contribute to a festive atmosphere for interns facing the worst”. Others do not see in these drawings “no sexist intent”. When still others denounce a “disturbing puritanism”. In the Vannes hospital, for example, according to West Francea vote was organized on this work: 73% of interns voted in favor of maintaining it, 7% for its withdrawal and 20% of students abstained.
But why do some people have such an attachment to these drawings? According to Jean-Christophe Nogrette, deputy general secretary of the MG France union, above all they illustrate part of the history of guard rooms. “At the end of the 19th century [période de création des premières fresques carabines] sexuality was still very taboo. These frescoes were a way for the interns to demonstrate their freedom. » The general practitioner, now 60 years old, does not remember that in his time, some people, both men and women, expressed embarrassment in the face of these works. “They were seen by some as a release, for others as humor. »
For Gaëtan Casanova, 34, former president of the National Intersyndicale of Interns (Isni), these paintings are above all “the relic of a past era”. The former AP-HP intern nevertheless understands the attachment of certain colleagues to these frescoes. In some old hospitals, the frescoes date from the end of the 19th century. “They are almost museum pieces. » But according to him, “the level of paintings has declined over time”. “If we put it schematically, we went from works often created by students at the Beaux-Arts, where everyone took their place, with caustic humor, to a zguegue drawn on a wall. »
“The vast majority of interns don’t care”
Among students, voices – more and more numerous – are being raised to denounce the sexist nature of these drawings. “It is still a notable step forward: sexist, homophobic frescoes, and also glorifying medical domination over staff, will (finally) disappear from duty rooms. Not too early,” rejoices, for example, Luc Ginot, doctor and director of Public Health at ARS Ile-de-France on X.
Gaëtan Casanova himself admits that these drawings are not really to his taste. “When I eat lunch, I don’t necessarily want to have a pair of balls in front of me. The interest leaves me perplexed,” he smiles. However, according to him, medical students fiercely opposed to these frescoes remain in the minority. The young doctor believes that the vast majority of interns “don’t care” and don’t even see them anymore. In short: these works are part of a decor to which they do not even pay attention.
Jean-Christophe Nogrette shows himself to be a pacifist. “It seems like this is bothering some people today. On the train, if someone is cold, we close the window. For me, we had to do the same on this subject. » One question remains: what to do with these works? Gaëtan Casanova suggests creating a boarding school museum “to give meaning to something that is no longer understood. »