Porte d'Auteuil, a controversy around Roland-Garros swells. In question: the dress code deemed "sexist" to which the hostesses of the tournament are subjected. On Friday, June 2, Le Parisien revealed that the latter were required to respect many "rules" dictated in a "Guide of the Perfect Host (e)". Strict, this charter requires in particular "a light but always present and weather-resistant makeup", "a spray spray for rebellious locks" or "depilated legs and armpits".
"A role of 'potiche'"
Young women in charge of welcoming the public are also asked to wear pumps, a tailor's skirt and a shirt "leaving the first button open". So many injunctions that do not pass (or no longer). Especially since their male counterparts have much less constraints regarding their appearance. They would only be asked to "trim their beards properly or shave white" and button their shirt or polo shirt all the way up. An inequality of treatment that did not fail to denounce Sophie Binet, the new general secretary of the CGT.
"There is a real problem with the job of hostess, which is structured by sexist stereotypes and exposes to sexist and sexual violence. Hostesses are particularly exposed to all that is sexual harassment, sexist remarks or even sexual assault, "she lamented on the set of BFM-TV this Sunday. "They are forced to wear outfits that are sometimes contradictory to the job they have to do because they are asked to put on heels when they have to walk a lot. Some hostesses told me that they were sometimes forced to put on transparent blouses, lots of lipstick, makeup. We deny their professionalism by locking them into a role of "potiche" when they are there to be calm, polite, know how to guide and react in case of security problems. "
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For her part, Sandrine Rousseau has also stepped up to the plate. "Roland-Garros is the world of yesterday, a conservative, retrograde, sexist and misogynistic institution, which takes women for green plants," teased the Parisian deputy, in the columns of the Parisian. The same goes for the LR mayor of the 16th arrondissement of Paris, Francis Szpiner, who believes that "forcing hostesses to wax is an attack on dignity".
According to information from Neon, the French Tennis Federation denies being at the origin of this guide. As for the agency that employs hosts and hostesses, it believes that "hair removal is part of a code of appearance". However, as the general magazine points out, forcing an employee to wax is perfectly illegal.