Sexism

French actor Gérard Depardieu accused of sexual violence by 13 women

France — Investigation

During an investigation lasting several months Mediapart has gathered numerous testimonies that accuse actor Gérard Depardieu of inappropriate words or gestures. The accusations come from actresses, make-up artists and production staff. Often taking place in public, the events are said to have occurred during the shooting of eleven films that came out between 2004 and 2022. The director Fabien Onteniente says that on one occasion he confronted the famous French actor over his behaviour. Depardieu himself denies any criminal behaviour. Meanwhile, one actress has just given her account to the French justice system. Marine Turchi reports.

The unsavoury, sexist side of France's natural wine sector

France

The world of natural wine – which is made with little or no chemicals – has a reputation for breaking the normal rules in order to produce a more ethical drink. However, there appears to be another, hidden, side to this small community of wine producers and sellers, following the emergence of numerous accusations of sexism. Though as Julie Reux reports, the claims appear to have had little impact on some people's attitudes within the sector. And now feminist activists and victims say they feel under pressure to keep quiet.

French gender equality watchdog warns of growing sexist 'backlash'

France — Link

In a report delivered this week, the High Council for Equality between Women and Men finds that sexism is far from retreating in France, noting that French society remains 'highly sexist at every level' and that 'younger generations are the most affected'.  

French minister slams parliamentary sexism in language row

France — Link

Barbara Pompili clashed with MP Julien Aubert and other MPs from the right-wing opposition after he addressed her as "Madame le ministre", using the masculine form of the definite article in French.

French commentator Éric Zemmour accused of sexual violence against women

France — Investigation

On April 24th 2021 a female councillor publicly accused French journalist and polemicist Éric Zemmour of having forcibly kissed her. Mediapart has gathered the accounts of several other women who have also condemned the actions and behaviour of the journalist from Le Figaro newspaper and CNews news channel, whom some on the far-right want to be a candidate in next year's presidential election in France. When approached by Mediapart, Zemmour declined to respond to the allegations. Lénaïg Bredoux, David Perrotin and Marine Turchi report.

Scandal of racist and sexist language used at organisation delivering Paris Olympics

France — Investigation

An investigation by Mediapart has revealed a pattern of anti-Roma insults, sexist behaviour and prejudice towards residents of a high-immigration area among certain staff at an organisation helping to deliver the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. After Mediapart raised the issue with management three employees at SOLIDEO – the body overseeing construction of the Games infrastructure - have been suspended and an internal inquiry has been established. Previous attempts to raise the issue internally, including the referral of complaints to the office of Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo,  apparently had little effect. Jade Lindgaard and Antton Rouget report.

Sexual violence and harassment at work: the allegations of McDonald's staff in France

France — Investigation

Mediapart and the website StreetPress have spent several months investigating the management of McDonald's branches in France. We have compiled a total of 78 testimonies from staff who describe a workplace in which sexist, racist and homophobic comments often feature, and even in some cases sexual assaults. The restaurant chain has been accused of turning a blind eye to the problem. It says that non-discrimination is a “cornerstone” of the chain's values. Khedidja Zerouali reports.

Battle against sexual violence at one of France's elite educational institutes

France — Investigation

The École Polytechnique, one of France's most prestigious higher education institutions, faced calls to tackle issues of sexual violence and sexism among students and staff well before the Harvey Weinstein scandal broke. Some women students have complained of sexist comments and others of sexual assaults. There has been one allegation of rape. Faïza Zerouala reports on attempts to fight sexist behaviour at the elite engineering school where military training is compulsory and which has a “macho” atmosphere.

Presidential candidate Fillon slammed for 'sexist' quip to journalist

France — Link

French conservative presidential election candidate François Fillon, whose campaign has been plagued by a fake jobs scandal and his related placement under investigation for suspected fraud and misuse of company assets, has caused a storm of protest after he suggested, during a TV interview on Thursday, that a journalist questioning him was unaware of his manifesto because she was pregnant.

French TV channel pulls 'sexist' ad boasting its presenters are mostly female

France — Link

Public channel France 3 was slammed over video of home chaos and abandoned domestic chores because women became presenters. 

French feminists lambast council over 'sexist' health booklet cover

France — Link

Bouches-du-Rhône council will replace image showing a boy wanting to get taller and a girl worried about her weight, at cost of €33,000.

French feminist sets up macho-shaming website

France — Link

Caroline De Haas, 34, says macholand.fr was created to mobilize France against 'rampant' sexism in the media, by politicians and advertisers.

Women journalists launch collective attack on France's macho media

France

A collective of French female journalists have launched a campaign against what they call the “invisibility” of women in the media and the often sexist stereotypes of women presented by the media. Their manifesto, published earlier this week with signatures of support from more than 400 media professionals, calls for tough new measures to guarantee gender parity in the journalistic profession and among pundits invited by the media, as already required by law. Here, Mediapart political correspondent Lénaïg Bredoux, a member of the newly-formed collective, explains why she and her colleagues have had enough of the macho media.  

La Barbe: France's bearded feminists

France — Link

A group of French feminists has found a new way to fight inequality, with sarcastic humour and fake beards - only rarely is there a violent response.

How French school books keep it a man's world

France — Report

French school teaching books offer a stereotyped, partial, sexist and always minimal record of the place of women in History, according to a study published this month and which confirms the conclusions of various official reports carried out over the past decade. The study, by the Hubertine Auclert Centre, a semi-public institution for the promotion of gender equality, was so damning that none of the 11 books examined were considered worthy of a prize of excellence. Lucie Delaporte reports on its findings.