Oxfam Report Highlights Persistent Gender Imbalance in French Leadership Roles
April 29, 2025
In the National Assembly, women hold only 36% of seats, a decrease from previous years, and only three women preside over parliamentary groups compared to eleven men.
Proposed solutions from Oxfam include implementing parity rules for sovereign positions, introducing a binomial voting system for legislative elections, and providing more family-friendly political engagement conditions.
While the government led by François Bayrou features an equal number of male and female ministers, none of the influential ministerial positions are held by women.
The organization stresses that the 'glass ceiling' persists and advocates for stronger measures to promote gender parity in public life, including rules for parity in key positions.
Oxfam calls for enhanced measures to support women's political engagement, such as adjusting meeting schedules to better accommodate personal and family life.
In response to the gender imbalance, prominent female politicians have called for a 'second act of parity' in a joint statement published in 'Ouest France.'
The situation in the Senate mirrors that of the National Assembly, where women comprise 37.5% of senators, contrasting sharply with 53% of French Eurodeputies.
As of April 29, 2025, Oxfam's new index reveals that only 28% of key executive, parliamentary, and local positions in France are held by women.
Currently, no women occupy the highest state functions, known as régalien roles, highlighting a significant gender imbalance in leadership.
Despite a law enacted in 1999 aimed at promoting equal access to electoral mandates for both genders, Oxfam's report indicates that efforts towards achieving gender parity remain inadequate.
Prominent male figures dominate these key roles, including Bruno Retailleau (Interior), Gérald Darmanin (Justice), Sébastien Lecornu (Defense), Jean-Noël Barrot (Foreign Affairs), and Éric Lombard (Economy).
Oxfam acknowledges some progress but emphasizes that male dominance in power structures continues to expose women to sexism and violence.
Summary based on 4 sources