On Thursday March 16, the results of an extensive survey conducted by Ipsos for the L’Oréal Foundation in September 2022 were published. For the occasion, 5,184 researchers working in 50 research institutions around the world were interviewed. they show that France – which represents half of the panel – is not spared by the phenomenon.
Thus, 45% of French female researchers believe that they have been victims of sexual harassment at least once in their scientific activity. Even if, in their eyes, the main difficulty they encounter on a daily basis remains the balance between professional and private life (67%), 32% also cite sexism. More specifically, 18% believe they have been victims of sexual harassment in their professional context and 46% have suffered sexist remarks.
authority figures
The study also questions the silence of institutions, denounced by a majority of women. A finding that does not surprise Anne-Cécile Mailfert, President of the Women’s Foundation, since the world of research is characterized by “a power relationship” she explains, in which men “occupy a place of authority. Also, it is immediately more difficult for women to set limits and to denounce it », she analyzes. Maude Beckers, a lawyer specializing in workplace discrimination, confirms: “this work context is marked in particular by the key role of thesis supervisors”she raises.
In fact, women are silent because they are afraid of the repercussions on their future: it is particularly difficult to question a director or teacher, whose opinion and support are paramount for the rest of their career. Of the 59% of French women who spoke of the harassment suffered, only 23% alerted their employers. The others content themselves with talking about it to their loved ones.
A conducive environment
Predominantly male, with more than 70% of researchers, the world of research is also, through its organization and its own culture, a fertile ground for sexist behavior. “The facts are often trivialized there. Under cover of humour, nicknames and little jokes actually deprive women researchers of their status,” as Maude Beckers observes, when she receives her clients.
The very flexible organization of work also plays a role. Women often meet one-on-one with their thesis or dissertation supervisors, “and that can become a strategy. They are overwhelmed and offer appointments in the evening. But suddenly, there are no witnesses.deplores Anne-Cécile Mailfert.
Reporting is all the more complex as the hierarchy sometimes boils down to a few people, and the stakes of reputations are very high. “Incriminating a man, who is very well known in his community, often turns against women. They are roasting »underlines the lawyer.
Towards more sanctions
In order to remedy this, it would be necessary “better train the members of these listening cells and create new ones”, according to Maude Beckers. Anne-Cécile Mailfert proposes to go further and advocates “the courage to sanction. If a research supervisor behaves inappropriately, he should no longer be able to conduct research. And a woman must be able to change referent immediately, without this having any consequences for her. »