A campaign to denounce the weight of words
Sexist language can have a profound impact on those who are subjected to it. Whether it's a drop in self-confidence, a feeling of illegitimacy or even a decision to give up sailing, these remarks contribute to a climate of exclusion and discrimination. The FFVoile reminds us that respect is an essential value in sport, and sailing is no exception.
The "It starts with words" campaign aims to raise awareness of the impact of sexist expressions and attitudes in clubs, through an educational and accessible approach. Jean-Luc Denechau, President of the FFVoile, emphasizes: "The fight against gender-based violence is one of the FFVoile's priorities. Our primary strength is prevention from an early age."
An educational and engaging approach
To help clubs and sailors raise awareness, the FFVoile provides several tools:
- Ten posters and a booklet distributed to affiliated clubs under the slogan "le poids des mots" ("the weight of words").
- Stop Violence" educational video and a reminder of what not to do.
- A charter of good conduct which serves as an ethical reference for practitioners.
- The "> The campaign tackles several forms of violence, whether verbal, psychological, physical or sexual. Sexist remarks, demeaning jokes, inappropriate behavior and assaults are all situations that the FFVoile wishes to eradicate. The aim is to detect and prevent any form of violence that could be detrimental to the wellbeing of both male and female sailors. The booklet illustrates these different behaviors and situations in the form of a comic strip.
A complementary initiative to Mathilde de Kerangat's awareness game
Prior to this campaign, Mathilde de Kerangat, former Olympic athlete and member of the FFVoile, had already launched the following campaign an awareness-raising project through an educational game aimed at preventing violence in sport. The game features role-playing scenarios to help athletes identify and understand inappropriate behavior. It's an interactive and innovative tool to encourage reflection and discussion on these crucial issues.
A collective responsibility
In addition to prevention, the FFVoile wishes to involve all the players in the nautical world in a collective reflection on the behaviors to adopt. "p1" reminds the campaign.
Mutual respect and awareness of the weight of words are essential to creating a benevolent and inclusive sporting environment. The FFVoile therefore encourages clubs to take advantage of these tools to initiate dialogue and deconstruct stereotypes in a playful way, without excessive moralizing.
