Designated by the President of the Republic in 2017 and 2022 as a "Great National Cause", gender equality policy has been the subject of several high points, including the presentation of the "All Equal" plan in March 2023. This report highlights the differences in the life paths of women and men that are influenced by gender stereotypes and the limits of public action to address them. The inequalities between women and men from school to the labour market can be summed up in a paradox: although women have more qualifications than men, they have less access than men to the most highly regarded and best-paid jobs and professions. The effects of gender stereotyping can be seen as early as the student counselling process: girls tend to go for careers considered to be feminine in education, social work or health, while boys tend to go for careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. These effects continue and are even consolidated in the world of work. Although there have been numerous ministerial initiatives, they struggle to bear fruit. The deceptive increase in resources devoted to this policy has not made up for
the shortcomings in terms of interministerial steering. This is a complex issue due to the discontinuity of political strategies and the inadequacy of statistical tools and assessments of the impact of legislation on gender inequality. In addition to the action taken by schools and institutions, which must involve families, the primary vector of gender stereotypes, the elimination of pay inequalities requires greater recognition of the value of jobs
predominantly held by women, as well as measures to encourage a better distribution of parental responsibilities.
