However reversing the roles is not simple

Expertise: nuclear power. His employer: EDF. Title: Director of the Centre of expertise and inspection in the fields of the achievement and exploitation (Ceidre) at Saint-Denis. Forty-three years, Cécile Laugier runs 700 scientists in the Kingdom of the evaluation of materials dedicated to nuclear power plants. At the end of a journey without fault: armed with degrees from the Ecole normale supérieure and Ecole des Mines, this admirer of Marie Curie has rose through the ranks at EDF. Yet, his fate remains atypical: long, his profession was reserved for men.

In France, on 86 professional families identified by Insee, only ten (12 of the assets) reach parity. Among them, the right trades (57 of women) or medical (59). Conversely, 70 of teachers are women, and they make up 98 of the staff of the Secretariat. But, in 2008, women represented only 11 of the employees of the construction, 17 of the teams in metallurgy and 5 of road transport professionals. Figures, according to the report submitted to the Government by Brigitte Gresy, accompanied of other inequalities, on salaries, recruitment or career developments... Inviting the social partners to negotiate until the end of April, the Minister for work, Xavier Darcos, itself found that the France, to the world 116erang, did not "what celebrate" professional equality between men and women.

Labour shortages

Women, therefore, the tasks "fragile". For men, the technique, and work requiring force. Yet in 2010, these distinctions have more place to be. "In the aeronautics, there was more trades, so-called" men"in the physical realization of tasks, summarized Marc Jouenne, Director of human resources and social relations among Airbus." Even address the Union of industries and professions of metallurgy. "Our business had an image of Epinal quite black." "But it's now a case of brain drain more than large arm", note Marie-Christine Py, former President in Mayenne from the UIMM, the organization launched called departmental commissions "industri' they" for redeeming the metallurgy in the eyes of women. The phenomenon is gaining many sectors. The MGB Curry group now has a hundred framers, gear drivers, operators and other team leaders... They were 4 in 2006. Similarly, in Renault, women occupy today coaching positions at the Flins plant.

Over the years, the cultures of business have changed. Now, employers say: their teams should look to their customers. Thus, Renault going at top speed to increase its sales staff (women constitute only 8 of the employees of its showrooms): "diversity in business functions is fundamental since today ' today, 60 of vehicle purchases are influenced by women", explains Sophie Macquet, responsible of the automaker's diversity pole.

In addition, number of sectors - electrical, electronic, computer, hospitality, maintenance, construction... - turn to women because they fear a shortage of labour as soon as the recovery will ring. Computer, for example, where women has declined, from 36 of the workforce in 1990 to 34 today, could miss, by 2015, more than 70,000 specialists in Europe. Already, "technical trades suffer from a certain disaffection in young populations, deplored Frédéric Agenet, DRH France of the aircraft manufacturer EADS." "Faced with a shortage in the trades of engineers, the Group has accelerated its policy of social and cultural diversity".

However, reversing the roles is not simple. EADS accounts for only 20 of women on its 44.000 employees. Of course, they were only 3 to 4 of the workforce in 2004. But "Apart from the tertiary, we did not recorded significant changes", regretted Frédéric Agenet.

Much of received ideas

Because the roots of evil are profound: "There still lots of ideas." "Women are sometimes tempted by our professions but parents or spouse are not agree," notes Florence Berthelot, the National Federation of road transport. Barriers that go beyond the family circle: "In pole job, advisers do not have the reflex to propose to a woman trained in a transport company", she adds.

Employers must thus combat stereotypes from the banks of the school. Airbus, EDF or EADS send their ambassadors in high schools, schools or employment forums. Renault goes further: "Since the 2nd quarter of 2009, we conditionnons the distribution of the tax of learning that we donate to lycées improved diversity in their workforce," said Sophie Macquet. For its part, Airbus, which employs 17 of women against 10 ten years ago, encourages female students to join his own lycée professionnel: "Recruiting women on technical trades, requires also the pool is", says Mikael Butterbach, responsible for recruitment and marketing job at Airbus.

Networking and evidence

Companies also educate their workforce. The metal construction specialist Eiffel form its managers to diversity. While EADS develops a policy of "mentors" for its employees. For its part, Renault should soon launch a network of women around the world. To change the eyes, "networking and testimony are key factors," said Marie - Sophie Pawlak, President of the association "they move".

Essential, the enhancement of women's careers. "Until there is no motivating models in a branch, it is difficult to argue careers," said Isabelle Collet, researcher in gender and education at the University of Geneva. In computing, for example, "c covers, a novel as"Millennium"puts forward a"hackeuse", Lisbeth Salander, analysis." But it's someone exceptional. Ditto for "matrix". The identification with women also out of standards is not possible. "EDF understood. Last year, the energy giant has launched the GEF price ' Energia for women working in the nuclear and the students who are considering to venture.

However, "even when it is proactive, it still long", admits Philippe Caïla, Director of the APMA, which now forms 31 of women in technical trades, against 26 in 1997. But, he says, the subject progresses: "sociologically male trades are less and less, in any case representations." Moreover, on 24 February, the Pentagon authorized, for the first time, women to join the crews of American submarines. And then, the latest Barbie is not computer engineer