Sport and Gender - Gender Equality Week 2024
As part of International Women’s Day on 8 March 2024, Université Paris-Saclay is organising its Gender Equality Week for the ninth year in a row. With the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games fast approaching, this year’s edition will look at gender equality in sport.
Major differences between women’s and men’s sport still persist, from the disciplines women choose, the intensity of activities, practice locations and the rate of participation in competitions. The gendered perception of sport, where little girls dance and practice gymnastics, while little boys play football and practice judo, extends well beyond childhood.
Women are also significantly underrepresented in governing bodies, and in technical supervision roles, and as referees, umpires and judges. These inequalities in the sporting world are a reflection of bigger inequalities within society. By tackling the question of equality in sport head on, Université Paris-Saclay hopes to encourage a fairer, more equal and inclusive society.
What is the current situation for gender equality in sport?
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85% of TV sports broadcasting is focused solely on men’s sports [1]
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81% of the French population feel that there is a lack of women’s sports competitions on TV, and 64% say that they would watch more if there was more on offer [2]
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38% of all sports federation members are women [3]
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35% of 16–24-year-old girls and women who practice a sport with a club take part in competitions, compared with 69% of boys and men [3]
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17% of women who practice a regular physical activity have taken part in a sporting competition. This percentage is three times higher among men (52%) [3]
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Out of 115 sports federations, just 19 have women presidents (including 2 for Olympic sports) and 37% of women among steering committee members [4]
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Women are also underrepresented in sports supervising and management roles. Of 70 national technical directors, just 11 are women, and 5% of referees are women in football, rugby and ice hockey (26% on average) [5]
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The French ministerial unit for violence in sport recorded more than 600 reports of sexual violence at the start of 2020, 97% of which were committed by men, from 610 total cases, involving 54 sporting federations at the end of December 2021. [6]
[1] Source: 2016 Report from the Higher Audiovisual Council
[2] Source: Ifop opinion survey in partnership with Arcom on audiovisual consumption during the 2022 World Cup
[3] Source: Insee, Physical and sporting activity in women and men: increasing similarities, but also persisting differences, 2017.
[4] Source: Le Monde, 17 February 2020, "Représentation des femmes dans le sport : ces fédérations olympiques qui ne respectent pas la loi"
[5] Source: Report published in March 2017 by the French Ministry for towns, youth and sport, and the National Institute for youth and popular education.
[6] Source: Statistics revealed on 6 March 2022 at the third convention for the prevention of violence in sport at the Assemblée Nationale.
Throughout the month of March
- Monday 4 March :
Inauguration of the week in the Orsay University Library entrance hall and a tour of the exhibition, "Victoire! [Nom commun FÉMININ]", installed in the library entrance throughout the month of March. Inauguration from 1-2pm. Where? University Library, rue du Doyen-Poitou, Building 407, 91400, Orsay.
Installation of two exhibitions in March: “Women in the spotlight”, created by ENS Paris-Saclay, and “La voix des femmes", created by Elise Ammi. Both exhibitions aim to give centre stage to inspiring women from different backgrounds, periods and continents. Where? Atrium Germaine Tillion ENS Paris-Saclay, 4 avenue des sciences, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette.
- Tuesday 5 March:
Inauguration of the exhibition, “Just do Maths!”, created by the university’s Mathematics Graduate School, and a discussion/workshop with Mélanie Guenais, professor of mathematics at Université Paris-Saclay. 5.30-7pm. Where? Lumen, 8 Av. des Sciences, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette.
Conference with Isabelle Lemonon, historian with an agrégation in physics, on the Matilda effect. 12.30-2pm. Open to the university’s entire community, registration not required. Where? Amphi D. Hodgkin, ENS Paris-Saclay, 4 avenue des sciences, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette.
- Wednesday 6 March:
Webinar on professional gender equality: French and European perspectives, an overview of the various professional inequalities and policies within in the workplace. 1-2.30pm. Speakers (in alphabetical order): Clotilde Coron, professor in management science at the Jean Monnet Faculty at Université Paris-Saclay, Sandrine Maillard, professor in private law at the Faculty Jean Monnet, Frédérique Pigeyre, professor at the Conservatoire national des arts et métiers (CNAM), head of the chair on "Gender, diversity, equality ", and Elodie Tuaillon-Hibon, lawyer with the Paris Bar, head of the VIVERE AVOCATS law firm.
- Thursday 7 March:
An interactive theatre session (1hr30mins) with Synergies Théâtre at the Faculty Jean Monnet in Sceaux. 1.30-3pm. Where? Room E5, 54, Boulevard Desgranges, 92330 Sceaux. Reserved for students.
- Friday 8 March:
EUGLOH Webinar on an "Invitation to explore inclusive languages", 10am-1pm. Organised by Carmel Keane-Davies and Ghislaine Tamisier, Language & Interculturality coordinators at Université Paris-Saclay. Led by Isabelle Meurville, freelance translator from English to inclusive French. The interactive online workshop-conference will give participants the opportunity to take part in practical activities in small groups in different languages.
Two workshops, suitable for all audiences, in 2D and 3D on Marie Curie (workshops developed using interactive screens) and Ada Lovelace (immersion in her universe with a virtual reality headset). 12-2pm. Where? Hall of the Maupertuis Building, Université d'Évry, Rue du Père Jarlan, 91000 Évry.
- Thursday 14 March:
Webinar on Olympic women champions: access and performance of women in the Olympic Games with Anne Schmitt, lecturer and researcher at the Faculty of Sports Science at Université Paris-Saclay and Florys Castan-Vicente, lecturer and researcher at the Faculty of Sports Science at Université Paris-Saclay. 1-2pm.
Pop-up event to raise awareness about sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) with the Fondation L’Oréal. Open to the entire community at Université Paris-Saclay. 12-2pm. Where? ENS Paris-Saclay, 4 avenue des sciences, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette.
Webinar on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in science, organised by ENS Paris-Saclay and Fondation L'Oréal at 7pm. Following a survey carried out by Fondation L'Oréal and IPSOS about SGBV in science, the Fondation L'Oréal has worked with Giorgia Magni from the University of Geneva to develop a violence measurement indicator for SGBV in the world of research. The webinar will present the tool and explore what can be put in place to improve support for victims. With the participation of Giorgia Magni, Alexandra Palt (CEO of the Fondation L'Oréal), Olivia Benhamou (clinical psychologist, psychotherapist and sex therapist) and Nathalie Carrasco (President of ENS Paris-Saclay).
- Friday 15 March:
Literary reading of the novel "Mon enfant, ma sœur", followed by a discussion with Eric Fottorino, journalist and writer, winner of the Prix Femina and former chairman of the group Le Monde. 6-7pm. Where? Théâtre Joël Rousseau at CentraleSupélec, 9 rue Joliot curie, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette.
- Thursday 28 March:
Webinar conference on gender discrimination in sport and the impossible rise of men in rhythmic gymnastics, with the participation of Peterson Ceus, rhythmic gymnastics athlete and PhD candidate at Université Paris-Saclay. 1-2pm.
2024 Gender Equality Week 2024 communication kit
Victoire! [Nom commun FÉMININ]
This year’s edition of Gender Equality Week is showcasing the exhibition, Victoire!, created in collaboration with the photographer, Vincent Moncorgé. Available on loan.
Victoire ! In French, victory is a feminine noun which shouts for joy. Women have won, they continue to win, but they haven’t yet won equality. In this exhibition you will find thirteen victorious women. Thirteen portraits, thirteen examples that top-level sport is not just for men. Of course we know that, but clichés are hard to get rid of and prove that we must constantly demonstrate, time and time again, that excellence is not about gender.
*The word “victory” in French is a feminine, common noun.