The figures remain very negative. According to the second barometer published this Thursday by the collective of companies Stop ordinary sexism in business (#StOpE), the world of work remains perceived as unequal and sexist. This initiative launched in 2018 by Accor, Ernst & Young and L’Oréal, since joined by some 200 companies and organizations, aims in particular to “measure and set up monitoring indicators to adapt the policy to fight against ordinary sexism”.
After a first barometer in 2021, a new consultation with nearly 90,000 employees was carried out in March and April. It shows that for 79% of the women questioned, “women are regularly confronted with sexist attitudes or decisions in the world of work”, an observation shared by 57% of men, a proportion that is slightly down on 2021 ( 82% and 60% respectively).
Maternity, a “handicap” for women’s careers
Six out of ten women have already heard degrading remarks based on stereotypical representations of femininity (-8 points compared to 2021). More than three-quarters of women and two-thirds of men have been exposed to sexist jokes in their work environment. Four out of ten women received compliments about their looks or their dress that made them feel uncomfortable. Maternity continues to be perceived as a “problem” for the company and a “handicap” in the careers of women: nearly 7 out of 10 report this type of remark, as in 2021.
Among the management staff, one out of two female managers also declares having been confronted with expectations of specific managerial qualities and behaviors because of her gender. Among the youngest, women under 35 face ordinary sexism as much as their elders and six out of ten say they put in place “avoidance strategies”.
An insufficiently fought battle
For 53% of women and 32% of men, companies are not sufficiently involved in this fight. Even more severe judgment with regard to the State, which does not do enough according to 60% of women and 39% of men.
This barometer was established from a consultation with large French companies that are members of #StOpE, conducted via the Internet from March 6 to April 15 with 88,560 employees, and a national survey conducted on the same dates with a sample representative of 1,000 employees of public and private companies (excluding civil service employees) with 200 or more employees.