In its annual report on sexism, the High Council for Equality notes a growing “polarization” between women and men

“Women are more feminist and men more masculinist, especially young people,” says Bérangère Couillard, president of the HCE.

There is a “polarisation” growing among women “more feminist” and men sometimes sensitive to judged speeches “masculinists”. This is what the High Council for Equality (HCE) notes in its annual report on the state of sexism in France, published Monday January 20.

According to the document, six out of 10 French people believe it is difficult to be a woman. This is the case for 86% of women aged 25 to 34 and 66% of young men, according to a barometer carried out in October 2024 among a representative sample of 3,200 French people aged 15 and over. In addition, 45% of men under 35 – and a quarter of French people – consider it difficult to be a man, an idea which is growing among young men, according to this barometer carried out each year. “Women are more feminist and men more masculinist, especially young people”says Bérangère Couillard, president of the HCE.

However, the Mazan rape trial, where 50 men were convicted of raping Gisèle Pelicot, drugged by her husband, helped to “awareness”according to the HCE. For 65% of French people, this affair illustrates the fact that “all men bear a part of responsibility” in matters of gender-based and sexual violence. In addition, around nine out of ten French people “consider that men have a role to play in preventing and combating sexism”.

The barometer also shows that women are confronted with sexism on a daily basis: 86% of them have already experienced a sexist situation and nine out of ten have adopted strategies to avoid sexism on a daily basis. Inequalities in treatment between men and women are cited in the world of work (76%), in the streets and transport (71%), in the political world (70%), in family life (62%) , in the media (48%).

Faced with this situation, three quarters of French people consider prevention and the fight against sexism important. Nine out of ten are in favor of a school program to understand sexuality and prevent gender-based violence, which the HCE recommends putting in place. He also recommends developing “gender-sensitive budgets”to analyze at the national, regional, municipal level, what is spent on boys and men on the one hand, on girls and women on the other hand and “adjust public policies”.