PARIS (AP) 鈥 Five years into the #MeToo movement, French society "remains very sexist in all of its spheres,鈥 a government-created equality watchdog said in an annual report Monday that also sounded the alarm about double-digit rates of sexual violence reported by women.
The High Council for Equality between Women and Men called for a national 鈥渆mergency plan鈥 to combat what it described as 鈥漷he massive, violent and sometimes lethal consequences" of sexism against women.
In a survey commissioned by the council, one-third of women reported having been badgered by their partners into sexual acts that they didn't want. Around one in seven of the survey's women respondents said men had forced sex on them, and a similar number reported having been hit and shoved by their partners, the council said.
The council's president, Sylvie Pierre-Brossolette, expressed particular concern about sexism among younger men 鈥渂athed in social media, digital (technology), pornography.鈥 She said sexism must be 鈥漟ought from the youngest of ages.鈥 The council will present its findings to French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday, she added.
鈥淵oung people, in particular, are brought up digitally on these scenes of mundane violence, of relations between men and women that are completely of domination and dominated, and that has impregnated society," Pierre-Brossolette said, speaking to broadcaster France Inter.
鈥淯prooting sexism is very hard,鈥 she added.
The council's proposed 10-point plan of action included a call for tougher regulation of online content. Other suggestions included making training against sexism obligatory in workplaces and banning adverts that suggest some children's toys are for boys and others for girls.
France has made significant progress in some areas. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne is to hold the post and parliament's lower house also has , Ya毛l Braun-Pivet, since June.
Macron's government has also increased police resources against domestic violence and offered Lawmakers are also , with a bill intended to prevent any of the seen elsewhere, including in the United States.
Still, the equality council described the overall situation for women in France as 鈥渁larming.鈥
鈥淪exism is not retreating in France," the council鈥檚 report said. 鈥淥n the contrary, some of its most violent manifestations are getting worse and the young generations are the most affected."
