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- As early as August 13th, 1956, before the proclamation of the Republic, Burguiba proclaimed the independence of women.

- Underneath, one might say, on a kind of a lower floor of the Tunisian society, below men who were the victims of the colonial regime, there were women,

- the secondary victims of a terrible situation

- and that comes from old habits, traditions, with a sacred aspect, a religious aspect, that had women resigning over their own fate.

- It is about fighting mentality, habits.

- It is not a matter of poverty, it is a matter of traditions, custom, habits and it is hard to get rid of habits.

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- To remove the veil, this freeing act, he is the first one and the only Arab and Muslim Head of State who dared doing so.

- He is the first one and the only one who forbade repudiation and polygamy, who, on an equal foot, gave both spouses the divorce right and he did so in a conservative society.

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- The café was and remains the domain of men.

- Women, even if free, still don’t dare showing up.

- They fear they would cause a scandal or to be bothered.

- In some villages, and even sometimes in town, men still go to the market,

- as their wives remain in the household.

- But to fight against ancient habits and customs that are deeply rooted, one action is not enough.

- To transform mentalities, Burguiba multiplies the measures.

- Because as he explains, without the prerequisite of female evolution, no progress is possible.