Story perspectives

Eiffel Tower Reopens After One-Day Strike Over Women

9/9/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Eiffel Tower reopened on 8 September after a one-day strike over female staff being sidelined.
About 100 members of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha visited on 5 September.
The group asked to limit interactions with women, and Syndicat des Entreprises du Tour Eiffel (SETE) complied, removing female staff.
Minister Aurore Bergé condemned the action.
Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire opened an investigation after BAPS apologized.

History

Historical Context

France’s gender-equality agenda started with women’s suffrage in 1944, the 1975 anti-discrimination law, and the 2000 law strengthening professional equality, which reinforced gender-parity measures. The recent removal of female staff from the Eiffel Tower by SETE, after BAPS demanded segregation, echoes those struggles, prompting Minister Aurore Bergé and Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire to investigate. In 2019, women held 43.6 % of board seats in 120 French firms.

1 of 2

Story summary

The Eiffel Tower reopened on 8 September after a one-day strike over female staff being sidelined.
About 100 members of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha visited on 5 September.
The group asked to limit interactions with women, and Syndicat des Entreprises du Tour Eiffel (SETE) complied, removing female staff.
Minister Aurore Bergé condemned the action.
Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire opened an investigation after BAPS apologized.

1 / 2