Emmanuel Macron's wife Brigitte has frequently been the target of rumours that she is transgender, with 10 people currently on trial in France for spreading such stories online. France's first lady is far from the only victim of this type of attack, says feminist historian Christine Bard, who explains that it aims to undermine women in positions of power.
RFI: Before Brigitte Macron, former United States First Lady Michelle Obama and former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, as well as numerous female athletes, have been the target of rumours questioning their "true femininity" and claiming they are in fact transgender. Why do these types of allegations come up again and again in relation to women with a certain amount of power?
