The High Council for Equality between Women and Men, which publishes its annual report on Monday, pinpoints the sexist practices that are particularly prevalent in the political world. Inappropriate comments, disqualification of women, and even harassment and sexual assault, much work remains to be done, in particular in the Assembly and the Senate.
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The sharing of power between men and women in France is particularly unbalanced: 84% of mayors are men. More serious, it is the very behavior of parliamentarians that is denounced in the report of the High Council for Equality between Women and Men.
"Violent archaisms"
According to Brigitte Gresy, President of the High Council, today no one controls the conduct of parliamentarians: "Deputies and senators are accountable to their voters, but collective regulation cannot be done in parliamentary assemblies." She denounces "very violent and very strong archaisms of sexism" ranging from "chicken noises" when women speak, to facial expressions, sighs and laughter on the benches of the assembly.
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To fight against this feeling of impunity, the rapporteurs suggest that women can appeal to the High Authority for transparency in the event of gender-based and sexual violence. The independent body already controlling the property of elected officials could also look into deviant behavior.