1/ THE SPORTS LAW
A new law to allow women easier access to the head of sports federations
French sport now has 114 federations. Of these, less than twenty are chaired by women. Alarming figures.
A recently passed law finally promotes parity at the head of the federations from 2024, following the Paris Olympics which aim to be entirely equal.
Despite the 2014 law which aimed to oblige federations to have at least 40% of women within their bodies, and 25% for federations with less than 25% of licensees, these obligations were not respected, resulting in of their non-respect only of the reminders to order. At the national level, the federal authorities at the national level have 62% men (1304) and 38% women (800). For local authorities, 69% are men and 31% women. For these local authorities, the deadline is extended to 2028.
The question of mandates is also at the center of this new law, since it plans to limit the number of mandates. Indeed, today the number of mandates is unlimited. With the new limitation, renewal should therefore be more common, and therefore allow women easier access to sports bodies.
Hopefully this new law will lead to stronger penalties and real respect for the rules of the game.
2/ 6 MILLION FEMALE SPORTS LICENSEES
A slight decline linked to the health crisis in 2020 / Access to sport more difficult for women than for men
Today, nearly 48% of women practice sport at least once a month, almost as much as men (50%).
However, there is a real difference in terms of practices: the practice of women is more marked in disciplines such as gymnastics/fitness and dance, while cycling, racket sports and team sports are still more widely practiced by men. Only 8% of women practice team sports (football, rugby, volleyball, handball, basketball) against 23% of men.
Women also encounter more difficulties in accessing sport: 49% have already given up for financial reasons (compared to 34% of men), 46% for family constraints (vs 38%) and 40% for financial reasons. domestic (vs. 33%). For 83% of French people, it is important that high-level sportswomen benefit from appropriate measures to be able to reconcile motherhood and their professional career.
Licensees in France, recent developments: In 2020, the number of sports licenses issued to women decreased very slightly compared to 2019 (6,159,000 compared to 6,386,000). The health crisis and the cessation of competitions is the main reason.
However, many sports have experienced a real increase, in particular football under the effect of the Women's World Cup (+7.6%) or rugby league (+12.8%). A highlight, since September 2021, women's rugby has experienced an evolution of 22.12% (26,465 licensees)!
3/ PAY EQUALITY
American women soccer players will now get the same salary as men
We remember the interim judgment trial in May 2020 where the Americans were dismissed by a Californian judge. But following the appeal of the decision, and the determination of the latter ("We will never stop fighting for EQUALITY" announced Megan Rapinoe), the American football federation acted at the end of February equal pay for the men's selections and feminine.
A big step forward for the American selection, world champion in 2019 in France. 28 American footballers, including stars Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan, had attacked the American football federation based in particular on the salaries distributed during the last World Cups. In 2014, the men's team eliminated in the round of 16 had received 4.5 million euros. In comparison, the world champions had in 2019 received 1.45 million euros.
A protest action that eventually paid off. "This is a monumental step forward in feeling valued, respected, and repairing our relationship with US Soccer" said Alex Morgan.
4/ CYCLING, RETURN OF THE WOMEN’S TOUR DE FRANCE
The first edition of the Tour de France Women will start in July
12 years after the "Great International Women's Loop", the first edition of the women's Tour de France will take place in July.
In 1955, the first women's Tour de France in history was launched, but stopped after the first edition, as mentalities were not yet ready. In 1984, as a curtain raiser for the men's race, the women's Tour de France reappeared. The Frenchwoman Jeannie Longo will win it 3 times. From 1990 until 1993, the "Women's Tour of the EEC" took over but also saw the appearance in 1992 of the "Women's Cycling Tour", later renamed "Great International Women's Loop" from 1998 to 2009.
Today, the Women's Tour de France is back! It is Marion Rousse, former professional cyclist who has been appointed as director of the event. For 8 days, cyclists will cover more than 1,000 km, starting from Paris and arriving in the Vosges, at the Super Planches des Belles Filles. 132 sportswomen divided into 22 teams will start on 24 July.
5/ PRECURSOR WOMEN'S HANDBALL
Women's handball signs the Collective Agreement for professional female handball players
On March 15, 2021, the Union of Professional Women's Handball Clubs, the Association of Professional Handball Players (AJPH) and the Group of Coaches and Handball Training Professionals (7Master) signed the Collective Agreement for Professional Players Handball, thus becoming the first French sport to have its own collective disciplinary agreement. This agreement will make it possible in particular to adapt labor law to the particularities of handball.
One of the main changes concerns the salary in the event of work stoppage. The salary will now be maintained for a total duration of 12 months whereas previously it was only maintained for 3 months. This particularly concerns long-term injuries or maternity leave.
6/ THE FIGHT OF THE HIJABEUSES FINALLY HEARD
The fight for the right to play for all
The collective of hijabeuses finally heard! For several months, the association which campaigns for the acceptance of the veil in sports competitions, has been organizing football demonstrations in front of the decision-making places of the authorities and federations in order to be accepted in sports competitions. Until then, a woman could not play veiled during official competitions. Many athletes opposed this ban, making France one of the only countries in the world not to accept the wearing of the veil in competition. However, this going against the decisions adopted by FIFA, since 2014, the latter had amended Law 4 on "players' equipment" authorizing the wearing of the veil and the turban in football.
A real victory for the #footpourtoutes collective!
7/ WOMEN'S SPORTS BUSINESS
A new eldorado Today, women's sport has more than 12 million fans and tends to develop economically.
While 56% of sports fans watch and support women's sport, the income generated by women's sport in France remains very limited (€293 million) compared to that of men's sport in France (6 times more).
Of female sports fans, 38% became fans by watching sport on television, and almost a quarter by watching the Olympic and Paralympic Games in particular.
An important question that arises then: women's sport certainly represents an important breeding ground for economic growth, but will we be able to create a sustainable and virtuous business model there?
It therefore seems fundamental to anchor in this new ecosystem, the 3 social, economic and environmental pillars that we mentioned in the preamble to this article and to replace equality and the fight against gender stereotypes and discrimination at the center.
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Future is female _ GENDER EQUALITY TODAY FOR A SUSTAINABLE TOMORROW_ 8 mars 2022_ ALKÉ