Gender Inequality in France Persists in Pay, Work and Family Life

Gender inequality in France continues to shape family life, education, employment, health and political representation, with women bearing a disproportionate share of unpaid labor and facing wider disadvantages in the job market and at work. The imbalance remains visible across private and public life, despite gradual gains in some senior roles. Women perform about 64% of housework, and men’s contribution inside the home declines further as the number of children increases. After divorce, women’s living standards fall more sharply than men’s, while joint custody accounts for about 10% of cases. In the labor market, women’s employment rate remains below that of men, and part-time work is far more common among women. In the private sector, women’s average annual salary remains lower than men’s, and the pay gap persists even when calculated on a full-time equivalent basis. Although women’s share of senior positions has risen, men still dominate management and decision-making levels. The data points to a persistent structural gap that continues to affect women’s economic security and influence across French society.