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Let’s Talk Parity – What is the pyramid of violence?

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Let’s Talk Parity is a series of short articles on concepts relating to parity that the INSP’s Equality-Parity referents have decided to set up.

Part 4: what is the pyramid of violence?

This is a representation of gender-based and sexual violence (VSS) of increasing severity and decreasing frequency (fortunately!) as we approach the top. Here are the definitions (taken from the Penal Code and the General Civil Service Code) and some figures corresponding to the different levels of the pyramid. All these acts are subject to disciplinary action (CNRS and Sorbonne University reporting units in the resources).

Sexist behavior, or everyday sexism, refers to any behavior related to a person’s gender that has the purpose or effect of violating their dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment (“Are you okay, sweetheart?”, “You’re not going to carry that on your own, a strong boy will help you”). According to a study published in 2016 [1], 51% of women have felt excluded during professional group activities because of their status as women (being asked to make coffee, being interrupted, being forgotten or excluded from a meeting).

Sexual harassment is defined as repeated comments or behavior of a sexual or sexist nature that either undermine dignity due to their degrading or humiliating nature, or create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. Even if not repeated, the use of any form of serious pressure with the real or apparent aim of obtaining a sexual favor is considered sexual harassment. Sexual harassment can consist of environmental or atmospheric harassment, where, without being directly targeted, the victim is subjected to provocations and obscene or vulgar jokes that become unbearable. In France, one in three women say they have experienced sexual harassment in their professional life [2]. In science, it is one in two [3]!

The last two levels of the pyramid are, of course, the most serious. Sexual assault refers to any sexual act committed with violence, coercion, threats, or surprise. Rape is any act of sexual penetration of any kind or any oral-genital act committed with violence, coercion, threats, or surprise. Nine percent of women in France report having had “forced” or “unwanted” sex with someone in their professional environment [4].

Useful resources:

A good tool for raising awareness of gender-based violence: e-learning offered by Sorbonne University, available on Moodle in different versions for supervisory and non-supervisory staff and for PhD students (counted as part of doctoral training, at least for EDPIF). https://moodle.sorbonne-universite.fr/login/index.php, log in and go to the “Equality and anti-discrimination” section, e-learning course “Sexist and sexual violence (VSS): Prevention and response (French version)”. An English version is also available.

Don’t miss Orange Day on November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women).

Reporting units

  • Sorbonne Université: https://portail-si gnalement.sorbonne-universite.fr/

Legal advice and support service: CIDFF : Centres d’information sur les droits des femmes et des familles, Tel : 01 83 64 72 01, https://paris.cidff.info/

  • CNRS : signalement(at)cnrs.fr

The France Victimes association’s free and anonymous listening and support service : 01 80 52 33 77 7/7j – 9 h /21 h – cnrs france-victimes.fr

Sources :

[1] CSEP 2016

[2] IFOP 2018

[3] « Harcèlement sexuel et sexiste au sein du monde scientifique », IPSOS 2023

[4] IFOP pour la Fondation Jean Jaurès, Les violences sexistes et sexuelles en Europe, 2019.