Sexism persists among young men: "The situation is alarming", says the High Council for Equality

Sexism is not declining in French society.

Despite the awareness caused by the Me Too movement, despite "undeniable progress in terms of women's rights", sexism persists in France, in particular with "masculinist reflexes" among young men.

The situation is “alarming”, deplores in a report delivered Monday, January 23 the High Council for Equality.

This is based on a survey conducted by the ViaVoice institute, with 2,500 people.

The key: digital regulation

The report of the body asks in particular to “regulate digital content”: “to fight against stereotypes, degrading representations and scenes of violence now commonplace on the Internet, in particular in pornographic videos”.

The president of the HCE, Sylvie Pierre-Brossolette, must be received by President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday January 25, on the occasion of the Day against sexism.

The independent advisory body, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary, will participate this week in an awareness campaign and will open a "trial against sexism", organized by the collective "Together against sexism", which will be closed by the Minister responsible for 'Equality between men and women, Isabelle Rome.

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Increased violence, lack of consent

“Sexism is not declining in France.

On the contrary, some of its most violent manifestations are getting worse and the younger generations are the most affected”, writes the HCE, which notes that “five years after Me Too”, “French society remains sexist in all spheres”, public , private, professional, media...

Overall, the HCE warns against a "situation which is worsening with the appearance of new phenomena: online violence, increased virulence on social networks, barbarism in very many productions of the pornographic industry, affirmation of a masculinist and anti-feminist sphere.

A quarter of men think we're "doing too much about sexual assault"

Report of the High Council for Equality

Nearly 40% of women have experienced non-consensual situations

80% of women say they have the impression of having been treated less well because of their gender during their life.

37% say they have experienced situations of non-consent, including an unprotected relationship at the insistence of their partner (12%), non-consented under the influence of alcohol or drugs (7%).

Men struggle to relate

“Public opinion recognizes and deplores the existence of sexism but does not reject it in practice, mainly among men,” according to the report, which is based on official figures and a barometer produced by the ViaVoice institute.

The men on their side struggle "to feel concerned", do not feel personally responsible for sexist behavior, even for a quarter of them, think that we "do too much about sexual assault".

Consequence: daily renunciations

Sexism leads to daily renunciations, for 9 out of 10 women questioned: half give up going out or doing activities alone or dressing as they wish.

8 out of 10 are afraid to go home alone at night.

If men over 65 are more “conservative”, attached to strict gender roles, the HCE also observes “masculinist clichés” among those under 35: a quarter believes that it is sometimes necessary to be violent to be respect.

The image of women conveyed by pornography is considered problematic by half of them compared to 79% of those aged 65 and over.

The HCE is concerned about a “

phenomenon at work everywhere”, with “masculinist raids” on social networks “to silence women or discredit them”.

Recommendations

In addition to the regulation of digital and actions in the field of education, the institution proposes, after the scandals which shook the parties last year, the creation of an "Independent High Authority to fight against gender-based violence in Politics".

To change mentalities, the HCE recommends prohibiting advertising for gendered toys and conditioning the payment of public money to a consideration in terms of equality, for example in terms of training, for companies.

It recommends strengthening the “financial and human resources of justice for courts responsible for dealing with domestic violence, like the Spanish investment”.

The government has entrusted Parliament with a mission on such specialized courts.

An uninformed population

However, the French generally have more confidence in doctors and specialized associations than in the government to prevent and fight against sexism.

And there is still a long way to go, in a country where 15% of the population “doesn't really see what 'Me Too' is”, and 14% have never even heard of it.

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