Q. Why does AAWE have such an anachronistic name?

A. Our name reflects our origins in 1961 (see our story), when a handful of isolated American women came together to find mutual interests and support. In particular, they wanted to protect their American citizenship rights at a time when accepting French nationality by marriage was considered a rejection of American nationality. Over the intervening almost 50 years, our membership and activities have become much more diverse.

Q. Do I have to be married to join AAWE?

A. No. Regular members either are, or have been married OR living with a European partner. This includes women who are engaged, divorced, or widowed. Some associate members are single.

Q. Do I have to be American to join?

A. No. Non-American citizens whose children are US citizens are eligible for associate members in AAWE. Non-US citizens may apply to AAWE as an exception to regular membership categories.

Q. If my spouse/partner is not European, can I still join AAWE?

A. Yes. American women whose partners are not citizens of a European country may apply for associate membership if they have lived in France for five years or more. If this is not the case, they may apply to be an exceptional associate member.

Q. Can men join AAWE?

A. Yes. AAWE has several members who are American husbands of European women.

Q. I don´t live near Paris. What can AAWE offer me?

A. Non-resident members pay reduced dues but still receive the AAWE News, our weekly e-mail announcements, can participate in our members-only chat group on Yahoo Groups, and are of course welcome at any and all AAWE activities. They gain access to an instant support network of other American women who understand the joys and challenges of bicultural living. Many members who move away from the Paris area retain their memberships in AAWE just to stay in touch.

Q. Isn´t AAWE just for “ladies who lunch”?

A. AAWE members come from all walks of life: artists, lawyers, teachers, stay-at-home moms, businesswomen... A large percentage of our members work outside the home. We strive to offer a range of activities to suit a wide variety of schedules and interests.

Q. What makes AAWE different from other groups?

A. AAWE members are by definition bicultural, whether they have lived in France for 5 months or 50 years. We are not isolated from French and European culture, yet we honor our American heritage — we try to make the best of both worlds!

Q. For what age group is AAWE?

A. All! Our members range in age from their early 20´s to close to 100 years old. The interaction of several generations enriches us all.

Q. How much time am I expected to devote to AAWE?

A. As little or as much as you want. There is no obligation to attend any meetings or activities. Members participate in the group as their other commitments permit. It is a volunteer group and many of the volunteer activities lead to lifetime friendships.