In 2006, Tarana Burke, a sexual assault survivor and activist, started the #MeToo movement in the United States to culturally reframe and expand the conversation surrounding sexual violence. Her movement worked to address the concerns all victims of sexual violence face, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, race or personal background. The success of Burke’s movement in America has inspired other countries to take action and destigmatize the conversation related to sexual harassment. One such country is France, where the #BalancTonPorc (“out your pig” in English) movement, founded by Sandra Muller, has flourished. Although expanding the movement globally is a step in the right direction, French officials have not taken comprehensive approach to solving the prevelant issue of sexual assault.
By creating the #BalancTonPorc movement, Muller encouraged women to speak out against sexual harassment and promote a wider discussion of gender norms. However, the movement is only focused on the experiences of women and does not extend past social media, thus preventing a noticeable change in the French population. In order for #BalancTonPorc to inspire change in the way #MeToo did, all people need to raise awareness for individuals affected by sexual violence and expand programming related to the prevention of sexual harrassment cases.
Some French celebrities like Catherine Deneuve have perpetuated the stigma surrounding sexual violence. Deneuve joined over 100 women to condemn the #BalancTonPorc movement in Le Monde newspaper, writing, “Rape is a crime. But insistent or clumsy flirting is not a crime, nor is gallantry a chauvinist aggression.”
This idea that sexual misconduct is deemed flirtatious and a necessary behavior in the life of a French man is one that is problematic and very difficult to change. Putting a man’s mannerisms at the center of all actions is exactly what is causing this issue in France. In the U.S., the focus of the #MeToo movement lies in allowing survivors to share their stories openly and form a community that supports all victims of sexual violence. While teaching men that these actions are frowned upon is also a primary focus of the movement, programs or online courses have already been established by a significant number of institutions and organizations, such as high schools, college campuses, health organizations and companies. These programs teach men and women alike that it is not the victim’s fault for acting a certain way nor is it the right of the perpetrator to engage in sexually inappropriate behaviors anywhere and at any time.
In France, reports of rape have increased by nearly 17% from 2017 to 2018, showing that although the movement has inspired survivors to come forward, many crimes go unnoticed as a result of the stigma present in the French population around sex crimes.
In order for France to make significant progress in reducing sexual violence among women and men alike, both groups need to take a stand together to provide support for survivors and determine a distinction between interactions that are appropriate and those that are not. The creation of sexual misconduct training programs across all organizations in France similar to those in the U.S. would allow for this distinction. France has attempted to implement a fining system that punishes people for engaging in acts of sexual misconduct. The new system is part of a harassment law that allows fines of up to £650 to be administered to anyone that is publicly seen harassing someone. Although the number of sexual misconduct cases has gone down since the implementation of this law, ending all sexual harassment requires a more thorough process.
Additionally, the movement in France fails to address that sexual violence can impact anyone, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. It is extremely important to broaden the views of the French public and show that sexual violence can affect people of many backgrounds globally. The American #MeToo movement actively supports men that are victims of sexual abuse, reporting that 16% of males were sexually abused by the age of 18, among other statistics that include not only cis-men and cis-women, but also transgender men and women.
There is no doubt that French government has made immense strides in creating a positive environment surrounding sexual harassment. In 2019, French government made gender equality its “major national cause of the five year-term,” and created new laws, 24/7 access to an emergency toll free number and additional emergency housing for women in danger. However, the publication New Statesman correctly notes that France has neglected this issue up until now and has additionally only allocated funds toward development aid and not toward a concrete national policy against sexual violence. There has been no increase in funding, but rather a redistribution of funds toward programs that the French government believes will help reduce the rate at which sexual violence occurs. French activists strongly believe that the lack of an increase in funding will not allow for a fundamental change to occur, leading to an increase in strikes and “rights groups would not be able to cope with the numerous calls for help that may derive from the government’s awareness campaign.” Until the French government can show real concern about sexual violence to the citizens of France by changing course in public policies and listening to the voices of the people, there is no way that we can make significant strides in reducing this pressing issue in France.
Through the inclusion of progressive programs, male activism and culturally focused education related to sexual violence, France can ignite a lasting change in the way that we confront this ubiqitious issue. It’s time for real action, not false promises.
Sara Khan (23C) is from Fairfax, Va.
Sara Khan (23C) is from Fairfax, Virginia, double majoring in neuroscience and behavioral biology and English. In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching Netflix shows, playing sports and listening to music. Contact Khan at sara.a.khan@emory.edu.
