The numbers are quite alarming. According to the High Council for Equality (HCE), nearly 10 million French people currently subscribe to a form of radical sexism, measured for the first time by researchers from the CNRS. This represents 17% of the population over the age of 15, with a notable gap between the sexes: 23% of men and 12% of women.
This type of sexism, labeled as "hostile", is based on a central belief: that men's place in society is threatened by women's rights advancements. This perspective can lead to a masculinist ideology, blaming feminism for a supposed decline in men's status.
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« This radical sexism can become a threat to public safety », warns Bérangère Couillard, president of the HCE. « It can lead to acts of violence and normalize extreme violence, up to the glorification of rape or murder. »
When male resentment turns into ideology
The report highlights a deep sense of distrust. More than a third of men, and one fourth of women, believe that « feminism threatens men's place in society ». Among some young men, this feeling translates into the idea that the male voice is now systematically discredited, especially in the face of justice.
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« Today, we hear less from men. Women's voices are taking up more space, and they can lie », shares one of them. Another one states: « In cases of domestic violence, when a woman speaks, we believe her. When it’s a man, we think he’s just acting ». These kinds of statements, when widely spread, reflect a hostile sexism, justifying inequalities and minimizing the violence against women.
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An ideology fueled by social media
According to Pascal Huguet, a researcher at CNRS who led the study, individuals who adhere to this radical sexism display recurring profiles: a political orientation often leaning to the right, or far right, or a lack of a strong political opinion, along with a notable overrepresentation of underprivileged backgrounds.
Social media plays a major role in spreading these ideas, trapping some users in a algorithmic radicalization. The HCE warns about France's lag in identifying and addressing this phenomenon, which has already been integrated elsewhere into policies for combating violent extremism.
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A Silent Radicalization with Very Real Consequences
Canada and the United Kingdom have recognized masculinism as a potential threat. “Once hatred towards women starts to develop, it can lead to violence, even terrorist acts,” emphasizes Bérangère Couillard.
In light of this dynamic, the High Council for Equality is calling for the implementation of a national strategy to prevent and combat masculinism, believing that radical sexism is no longer just a matter of ideological debate, but a major societal issue.
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It remains to be seen whether the government will finally tackle this issue head-on, as gender equality, which has been designated as a "national cause", has been largely pushed to the background during Macron's two terms, not to mention being overshadowed by Brigitte Macron's remarks referring to feminists as "dirty girls".