France Sees Surge in Radical Masculinism and Right‑Wing Violence Amid Growing Hostile Sexism
Updated (2 articles)
Arnaud’s Miss France Outburst Highlights Youth Masculinism In December 2023, 13‑year‑old Arnaud shouted “C’est n’importe quoi, cette Miss France ! Une femme aux cheveux courts, c’est pas une femme!” at dinner, prompting his mother Marie to intervene; the incident exemplifies a new wave of radical masculinist attitudes among adolescents and has drawn family and expert attention [1].
Government Report Quantifies Hostile Sexism Among Men The January 2026 “Rapport annuel sur l’état des lieux du sexisme en France” shows 23 % of French men aged 15 and older endorse hostile sexism, while 81 % of women 15‑24 feel disadvantaged compared with 57 % of men the same age; only 23 % of young men perceive male disadvantage, indicating a widening gender‑perception gap [1].
Experts Trace Masculinism to Radical Guru Influence Psychotherapist Sylvie Tenenbaum argues modern masculinism is driven by “gourous” marketing distorted masculinity to youths, creating a more radical wave; psychiatrist Aziga Billot adds that men in their 40s‑50s also struggle with intimacy, suggesting the issue spans generations [1].
Sociologist’s New Dataset Shows Sharp Rise in Political Violence Isabelle Sommier’s 2017‑2026 database records 2,300 incidents, with assaults doubling and group confrontations increasing fivefold since 2017, especially after the 2022 presidential campaign, confirming a recent escalation in political aggression [2].
Right‑Wing Activists Account for All Recent Fatalities The dataset notes six deaths since 2022, all caused by radical right‑wing activists, contrasting with 57 deaths (52 right‑wing, five left‑wing) from 1986‑2017, underscoring a shift toward lethal right‑wing violence in the current decade [2].
Converging Trends Link Masculinist Radicalization to Political Violence Both reports reveal a broader right‑wing radicalization: the surge in adolescent masculinism coincides with increased hostile sexism and a spike in right‑wing political assaults, suggesting overlapping social currents fueling extremism across age groups [1][2].
Sources
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1.
Le Monde: Parents confront son’s turn to radical masculinism – Describes Arnaud’s Miss France insult, the 2026 sexism report, and expert analysis linking adolescent masculinism to radical gurus, emphasizing family and societal impact .
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2.
Le Monde: Political Violence in France Doubles Aggressions, Fivefold Confrontations Since 2017, Says Sociologist Isabelle Sommier – Presents the new 2017‑2026 violence database, highlighting doubled assaults, fivefold confrontations, and six right‑wing deaths, framing a sharp rise in political violence .
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Timeline
1986‑2017 – Researchers document 5,500 acts of political violence—including vandalism, assaults, clashes and murders—across France, establishing a baseline for later comparisons [2].
2017 – A new database begins tracking political violence, recording 2,300 incidents through 2026 and noting a sharp increase after the 2022 presidential campaign [2].
2021 – Sociologists publish Violences politiques en France. De 1986 à nos jours, compiling 6,000 cases from 1986‑2017 and providing the methodological foundation for the 2017‑2026 dataset [2].
2022 – The presidential election cycle fuels a surge in political aggression; six deaths occur after 2022, all perpetrated by radical‑right activists, while earlier decades saw 57 fatalities [2].
Dec 2023 – During dinner, 13‑year‑old Arnaud tells his mother, “C’est n’importe quoi, cette Miss France ! Une femme aux cheveux courts, c’est pas une femme!” after Miss France Eve Gilles wins, shocking his family [1].
Jan 2026 – The Haut Conseil à l’égalité releases its annual sexism report, finding that 23 % of French men ≥ 15 endorse hostile sexism and that 81 % of women 15‑24 see gender as a disadvantage versus 57 % of men the same age [1].
2026 – Psychiatrist Aziga Billot warns that “some adolescents appear ‘lost’” and notes men in their 40s‑50s also struggle with intimacy, while psychotherapist Sylvie Tenenbaum links today’s radical masculinism to “gourous” who market a distorted masculinity to youths [1].