From sexist acts to sexual harassment, interns, mostly women, may find it difficult to respond to situations that are not tolerable. Students are mobilizing to come to their aid.
The fight against sexism in business requires many measures. Policies in recent years have placed a great deal of emphasis on some form of gender equity in management boards, in calling on women to move into positions or sectors considered masculine.
One of the last bastions of uninhibited sexism is found in the most precarious positions. Trainees are one of them. Three students have launched an Instagram account and a practical manual to raise awareness of this reality and combat sexism. They answered our questions to advise how to react.
Revolting testimonies
The Balance Ton Stage page was created in July 2020 by three friends, Agathe, Camille and Simon, all three in business school. It emerges following the bad experiences shared by the two girls of the trio, both confronted with sexism during their internship. Investigating around them, the three students discover that these bad experiences are unfortunately very common among female students. In their school, however, 0% of victims lodged a complaint and only 5% alerted the administration.
They then decide to make these collected testimonies public, anonymizing them for the sake of security for the people who testify. In September, their “Manual of Sexism in Business” came out, listing the data they were able to collect. Lerus testimonies mainly concern young women between 18 and 24 years old. They get fifteen to twenty a day, which range from inappropriate remarks to serious sexual assault.
The account names the attacks reported, specifying the penalties incurred by the perpetrators. This helps to draw attention to the possible criminalization of situations which may unfortunately seem trivial.
Responding to sexism according to Libra Ton Stage
In the face of these horrible situations, which are a source of stress when you are an intern, there are retaliations. We put the question to the creators of this account, asking them for their advice on how to respond firmly… and professionally!
Here is their advice depending on the case:
“1) Strengthen your non-verbal communication (move your head back, move away physically, frown, etc.);
2) Question or ask to rephrase ("Pardon", "that is to say?", "Can you rephrase", "I am not sure I understood correctly" …)
3) Describe the facts and express your feelings ("it makes me uncomfortable", "I don't feel safe" …)
4) Use humor or an absurd approach
5) Remind to the law: "Obviously, we do not agree and do not have the same vision of your behavior / of what you said. But know that in any case, it is is punished by law, so I ask you to stop / don't let this happen again "
6) As a target, seek assistance from a witness "
Indeed, the role of witnesses is also essential in the mechanisms of sexism at work. Not reacting is not fighting against this sexism, it is "to be an accomplice" assault the three friends. How to help the victims? "On told him "I believe you" https://www.aufeminin.com/ "you did well to tell me about it" https://www.aufeminin.com/ "it is he / she the culprit" https : //www.aufeminin.com/ "the law forbids it" https://www.aufeminin.com/ "I will help you" ”
Their manual, which is available free of charge on the internet, gives specific advice, with examples on each case.
In particular, he learns to recognize the limits not to be crossed by colleagues and superiors: for example a hand on the shoulder is not aggression, but the constant imposition of physical contact can be taken into account in harassment
The book also recalls that comments about the physical, questions about privacy can also be seen as intrusive and inappropriate.
Be careful not to feel caught in a gear when uncomfortable situations arise: just because you didn't dare to say anything from the start doesn't mean you can't talk any more!
Sometimes the courage to leave
The “Small Manual of Sexism in Business” emphasizes a still often unrecognized dynamic which is the pyramid of sexism. Permanent sexist remarks create a climate that facilitates the acceptance of inappropriate behavior, which is sexual assault, up to rape.
It is worth remembering, as the Manual also does, that the law prohibits any sexist behavior at work. “Most of the time, students don't dare talk about it and don't know who to talk to. Whether it is their hierarchy or at school. They are also afraid of being canceled or of jeopardizing their professional careers. ” tell us the creators of the account. Yet they have the right and the legitimacy to talk about it!
We asked the creators of the account what was the last resort in serious cases. It is then a question of leaving his internship, which is possible. They quote us below testimonies of people having made this courageous and necessary choice because they felt in danger.
“It is an act that requires courage because the student may be afraid of reprisals. But most of the time, he is relieved and can find another internship afterwards. He can speak to a referent within his school, or to dedicated associations. Their list is in our manual. The school and the associations can then help him to go and talk to his superiors about it and to initiate legal proceedings if necessary, and if the victim feels it. ” they tell us.
Yet these lived situations were inadmissible:
“An intern had to quit his internship because his supervisor asked him to sleep with a client to get a big contract; an intern had to leave her internship because she received incessant sexual proposals from her tutor (face to face, but also through all the means of communication at his disposal) ” relates Balance Ton Stage in response to our questions.
Faced with these serious cases, the three students end their answer to our questions with a positive note: “Some (like the first example) left their internship and found another one that went much better!”
In the face of sexism, let's not remain passive and passive. To learn more about this scourge, do not hesitate to consult their manual and follow them on Instagram!