OPINION: France, Belgium Ban Sexual Harassment

I imagine few women will be surprised by the fact that 55 percent of European women have experienced sexist hate speech since they turned 15, according to a report by the Council of Europe. In fact, 21 percent experienced sexist speech in the month preceding the survey.

Another jarring report by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights found that 21 percent of women experienced physical or sexual violence at the hands of a domestic partner since turning 15; 19 percent were stalked; 57 percent were sexually harassed; and 32.5 percent experienced physical or sexual violence before turning 15.

Belgium and France have begun taking steps to improve the situation. Both nations recently outlawed sexist hate speech, such as catcalling. In Belgium, courts fined a male driver €3,000 ($3,460) for insulting a police officer because of her gender and telling her she should find a job “adapted to women,” the Independent reports.

Likewise, the French legislature banned catcalling and all other unwanted and sexually aggressive speech in August in reaction to the widespread harassment and sexism French women face. In September, courts fined a drunk man €300 ($346) for insulting, sexist comments he made to a woman riding a bus in Paris, reports the New York Times.

Eliminating sexism, misogyny, and gender- and sex-based harassment will require changing norms. It requires guaranteeing and ensuring the rights of women to not be harassed. It requires hearing and believing women. It requires action.  

By making it clear through fines and arrests that sexist hate speech and harassment are not acceptable, society may slowly start to change. These laws encourage women to speak up, force authorities to take their complaints seriously, and may begin to change cultures from the bottom-up—by viewing women as worthy of the same dignity, respect, and treatment as men.