Women in France fined for outnumbering men in the leadership positions
How pursuit for gender equality backfired to women in Paris
Gender equality, set as a Sustainable Development Goal 5, is not only a fundamental human right but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.
The fact is that the number of women in high political positions is progressing, but there is still a lot more to improve.
According to the UN, only 24.3 % of all national parliamentarians are women. Within 193 countries, only ten (10!) women are serving as Head of State, and only 13 are serving as the head of the government. Again, only 20.7 % of government ministers are women.
Therefore, if we want to fulfill the Goal’s target, it is important to ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal leadership opportunities at decision-making levels in political as well economic life.
Women in the City of Paris fined for outnumbering men; how is that possible?
A wider look at first.
According to the Gender Equality Index 2020, we can notice a reliable measurement tool for gender equality in the EU, a slight increase in female political leadership positions in France in 2020, compared to previous years.
When it comes to the 10 biggest cities in France (Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Nice, Nantes, Montpellier, Bordeaux, Strasbourg and Lille), there are currently 4 female mayors, or 40%.
Since gender parity is on a good path in France, how is it possible that the Paris city mayor, Anne Hidalgo, was imposed a fine of €90,000 for having too many women in leadership positions?
This is so absurd that Hidalgo laughed at it during the City council session, called it unfair, irresponsible, and dangerous. She insisted on delivering the cheque to the Ministry of Public Service personally by her female colleagues.
Hidalgo is, by the way, the first female mayor of Paris.
The fine of €90,000 relates to a non-respect of the gender equality rule on leadership positions in the City of Paris.
In 2018, 11 women (69 %) were nominated for leadership positions, compared to only 5 men (31 %). At that time, the binding provision stipulated that both sexes’ new nominees must represent at least 40% each.
The fine is even more ridiculous since the overall percentage of women and men working for the City of Paris in 2018 favored men (53%).
On the other hand, the legal provisions regarding gender (female) equality in France are changing positively. The percentage set as a minimum of new nominees on leadership positions increased with years; it was set at 20% in 2013 and 2014, then 30% in 2015 and 2016, and finally at 40% in 2017 and 2018.
For the years that came after, the so-called ‘Sauvadet law’ was changed.
It is time to praise women’s equality
By region, Western Europe has made the most progress on gender equality, followed by North America, then Latin America and the Caribbean, then Eastern Europe and Central Asia, then Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and the last Middle East and North Africa.
Considering that in the past 50 years, 85 states have never had a female Head of State, it is not strange that the Global Gender Gap Report 2020 (World Economic Forum) says that, at the current rate, it will take approximately another 100 years to achieve real equality between women and men in the world of politics, economy, health, and education.
When it comes to the position of women, UN Secretary-General António Guterres made it clear: “Misogyny is everywhere”, he said.
“It is time to stop trying to change women and start changing the systems that prevent them from achieving their potential. Our power structures have evolved gradually over thousands of years. One further evolution is long overdue. The 21st century must be the century of women’s equality.”
He added that “gender equality is a question of power, the power that men have jealously guarded for millennia. It is about an abuse of power damaging our communities, economies, environment, relationships, and health. In the end, he stated that we must urgently transform and redistribute power if we are to safeguard our future and our planet. That is why all men should support women’s rights and gender equality. And that is why I am a proud feminist.”
It is clear that without legislation, the realization of gender parity does not stand a chance; moreover, our experience is constantly showing us so. Therefore, the enacting of laws in that regard and the compliance with those legal provisions are the key to successful goal achievement.
Unfortunately, the strict application of provisions regarding gender parity in the City of Paris in 2018 did lead to parity in favor of men, who were exceptionally in minority compared to female new nominees.
Likewise, the rule's application may sometimes create an absurd situation, as in the present case, where the objective of the rule was to fight the imparity of women, while it was turned around to fight the imparity of men.
Finally, end of January 2021, situation was made more just and the fine was cancelled.
The application of local regulation has an indirect influence on gender equality, so it is up to the enacting body to completely align the rule with its objective and then to apply it wisely.
Thanks for reading this story written by @Nana Bulat for Publication Whizzk.
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