French women having been sexually harassed or abused in bathing areas 2021, by age
Situations of sexual harassment or assault described by women regarding beaches and bathing places are not very different from those experienced in public spaces such as the street or on public transportation. In France in 2021, one woman in three reported having been stared at by someone to whom she had shown a lack of interest or have been the victim of whistling gestures, or rude comments. These assaults can even take a more serious turn, such as forced exhibition (one woman in five), sexual threats, or even touching.
Yet, it appears from these figures that the younger the women, the more widespread the exposure to such situations. Three out of five women under the age of 25 have experienced some form of sexual harassment in a bathing area, compared to one-third of women over 65. More than one-third of these young women had experienced sexual assault.