Man or woman: each represents the entire Nation, made up equally of women and men, who are all equal citizens in rights, as our Constitution stipulates, as the values of the Republic demand.
An equality that is still, in many respects, a declaration, an intention. In 2015, gender inequalities remain a reality.
A few figures are enough to grasp the extent of the disparities between men and women in professional life*.
The Equality Week was an opportunity to talk about a powerful accelerator of equality: sport.
In fact, sport, beyond competition, infuses society with a sporting spirit and has a social role. It is a space of citizenship, a space of equality.
On the sidelines of a conference organized by the association Femmes 3000, we gathered the testimony of Jérôme Vandamme, MEDEF delegate and secretary of the Sport Commission of the UPE, the employers’ federation of the department.
Nice-Premium: Can sport be considered one of the vectors of equality between women and men?
Jérôme Vandamme: Many have forgotten, but the sports world was one of the pioneers in the fight for equality between men and women. It is notably through the practice of sport that women have been able to evolve the debate on diversity and then claim the right to control their bodies.
Nice-Premium: The cause of women’s rights is relatively recent: it was only in 1945 that the United Nations adopted a charter establishing general principles…
Jérôme Vandamme: Women took more than a century to win the right to vote worldwide. Today, who knows that there are more female footballers than dancers in France?
Nice-Premium: Does equality exist at the top, in the governing bodies?
Jérôme Vandamme: Whether they practice a sport, coach a team, or participate in the management of a federation, women face a glass ceiling, just as in the world of work.
Looking at the recent results of the renewals of the federal bodies, I have observed that undeniable progress has been made in terms of representation.
The representation of women within the managing committees is currently ensured in 52% of the federations, compared to 39% in 2009.
However, regarding parity, only 12 federations, out of a total of 121, have managing committees that are close to achieving parity (between 40 and 60%).
I would like to take this opportunity to commend the swimming and gymnastics federations, which have achieved parity in their managing committees.
Nice-Premium: One could say that sport is a tool for social change…
Jérôme Vandamme: Historically, sport is a concept and a space created by and for men. That’s why it can become an ideal vector for women’s emancipation, almost a symbol.
