Business School Graduates Expose Culture of Discrimination at Top French Institutions

It is in a long letter that these graduates and students of HEC Paris, Essec, Edhec, Audencia, Neoma Business School and other top business schools have expressed how they have suffered from the "toxic, racist, classist, sexist, homophobic culture" that thrives on these campuses. "We are of all political persuasions and sexual orientations," they wrote.

The Mediapart investigation, published on Monday, January 6, was the trigger that allowed them to reveal themselves and collectively denounce the humiliations and actions of which they have been victims throughout their studies. They say they were shocked by the email sent by the HEC director general, Peter Todd, following the Mediapart revelations, which aims to "firmly refute certain comments in this article that suggest the School is knowingly covering up acts of sexism, homophobia and harassment," reports liberation.fr.

"Now, with the hindsight of the years, we are able to perceive the workings of an oppressive, sexist and dangerous system of assimilation, especially for those who would like to live and assert themselves in the expression of differences," they affirm. But before suffering for years, they say they tried to fight these practices by creating associations for equal opportunities. But in return, they received "hateful messages, abusive emails and encountered great hostility from many classmates."

This op-ed, which has received 514 signatures, demands that school directors take measures to ensure and accelerate change. This includes publicly admitting that such violence and actions exist in these schools, firmly sanctioning individuals and associations that encourage aggression and humiliation. More generally, to promote the presence of women speakers and those from diverse backgrounds at official and associative events, reports the same source.