The feminization of sport in France is mostly trompe l'oeil

Elections have been held in 33 of the 36 Olympic sports federations in France over the past six months.

Half of the presidents have changed.

Women are a little better represented than during the last term of office.

But for Virginie Phulpin, the feminization of sport is still only a sham.  

There are figures that are clear.

France has 36 Olympic sports federations.

With two women presidents and 34 men.

Difficult to do less equal.

Isabelle Jouin for hockey is the only one to have joined Nathalie Péchalat, who is at the head of the federation of ice sports.

So let's not caricature.

We are moving forward anyway.

Behind the posts of presidents, if we extend to the executive offices of the federations, there are 40% of women.

It is increasing, slowly, but steadily.

And for that it was necessary to go through the quotas.

The law for substantive equality imposes quotas in the management offices according to the percentage of women made redundant in each federation.

Initially, Virginie Phulpin had a little doubt about these quotas.

Did it really have to come to this, were percentages the only way to feminize sport, couldn't things move more naturally?

But let's stop the angelism.

Without quotas, we do not move forward.

It is thanks to them that between 2017 and this year, the number of women in the executive offices of the federations increased.  

The problem is that behind some encouraging figures, the picture is a little less flattering  

Women are more represented, but not necessarily better represented.

They are more numerous in the forums, but not much more listened to than before.

Many women explain that even in decision-making positions, they do not really have the means to act on issues.

It kind of gives the impression that the quotas are there to give people a clear conscience, it adds up to numbers, but the power remains in the hands of men.

Virginie Phulpin does not want to put all the federates in the same basket, some have really changed.

But in the majority of cases, it is now mentalities that will have to change.

The men in power in federations cannot eternally reproduce the same ancestral patterns.

And then the change also goes directly through women.

Ladies, you are not illegitimate to lead a federation, you have the same skills as men.

The illegitimacy complex will have to be fought to achieve true parity.

At the end of June, there are elections for the CNOSF, the French Olympic committee. Four people are running for the presidency. two women and two men. Now that the count is good, we will be able to talk about the projects.