Is Paris suitable for women? What it’s like being a girl in the City of Light

Fête de la Musique in Paris drew a record-breaking crowd this year. On June 21, the city pulsed with energy. Streets packed, speakers blaring, and the atmosphere festive. Coinciding with the summer solstice, this annual event transforms France into one massive open-air party, inviting everyone to immerse themselves in its vibrant spirit. But behind this year’s celebrations, something unsettling occurred. According to Le Monde and France’s Interior Ministry, 145 people—mostly women and teenage girls—reported being attacked with syringes that night, 13 of those cases in Paris. Authorities have since made 12 arrests and launched toxicology tests to determine whether date-rape drugs like Rohypnol or GHB were involved.

For former Paris resident Porsha, the news wasn’t so surprising: “Okay, I usually feel safe, but some men in Paris are just… meh.” She compares it to New York, where she lived previously: “Believe it or not, I actually feel safer in NY. There are just more people on the street. In Paris, after dark, it gets quiet. And the catcalling? Way more aggressive.” She recounts an incident that left her shaken: “I was biking toward Bastille from the north. Not even stopped. I was in motion, mind you. A guy came up behind me, I noticed his light on my feet, and then suddenly, he grabbed my ass and biked away laughing.” She thought that was the end of it, until he circled back and did it again. “That’s when I panicked. I realized he was following me ” she adds. Sadly, these aren’t one-off moments for her. “There are always men who catcall or approach you. And as an Asian woman, it’s worse. They film me, take pictures. If I say no, they get mad.”

Speaking of filming, Le Figaro recently reported that a 30-year-old man was sentenced to ten months in prison for secretly filming women in a public swimming pool. On April 2, freelance journalist Laurène Daycard publicly recounted her own experience of voyeurism in a public Parisian pool, sharing the story on Instagram. Her post immediately went viral, prompting an outpouring of support and sparking a wave of testimonies from other women who have also experienced sexual harassment and assault in the city.

Kelsey moved to Paris a year and a half ago seeking adventure, and a new start. Originally from the United States, she’d been living in Hamburg and felt ready for a change. But that change came with challenges. “Integrating here as an American woman hasn’t been easy,” she says. The language barrier was only part of it. “It’s dirty,” she says bluntly. “And the metro? It’s full of people who look completely miserable.” Most problematic for her has been the sexual harassment. “For some reason, men feel entitled to say or do whatever they want. I’ve been followed home. And I live in the center, close to the Arc de Triomphe” she adds. Their experiences are reflected in the data. According to France’s National Observatory on Violence Against Women, 3,374 acts of sexual violence were reported on public transport in 2024, which is a 6% increase from the previous year. Most of it happens in the Paris region with 91% of victims being women. While SNCF and other authorities have launched prevention campaigns, hotline posters, and stepped up security, many feel it’s still not enough. Plus violence doesn’t just happen outside. By June 2025, France had already recorded 36 femicides—a not so good sign for the year ahead.

Later in our conversation, we turned to other important, but often overlooked, topics like infrastructure and mobility. Porsha raised a common frustration: the lack of accessible public toilets for women. “There just aren’t enough, and half the time, they’re broken,” she said. “And why don’t they have toilet seats? Or those little paper covers to clean them?” Meanwhile, Karen, a mother of two, pointed out another practical challenge: navigating Paris with a pram. “Getting around with a stroller is really tough. There aren’t enough elevators. If I have to take the metro, I’d rather use a baby carrier.” On the topic of safety, Karen was pragmatic: “I wouldn’t say Paris is particularly unsafe. It’s not really safe for women anywhere. I’ve lived in Australia, and honestly, I felt more unsafe going out there than here.”

Anne agrees. And while she admits she might just be lucky, she says she’s never experienced any harassment or odd encounters, even though she lives in what some might consider a sketchy area, near La Villette. “I actually go home pretty late, and I often walk along the canal, from Saint-Martin to Canal de l’Ourcq. So far, nothing’s ever happened. Knock on wood. However, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it to others, because yeah, there are definitely some strange characters along the way” she explains. Personally, though, she reiterates that she’s never had an issue. Kelsey agreed that safety concerns hadn’t stopped her from enjoying life in Paris, though she admitted she had to adjust. “At first, I was frustrated that being a woman here meant constantly being on alert. Now I’m just used to it.” She added that, in her opinion, people seem to enjoy life more in Paris compared to Hamburg, though she missed the safety, straightforwardness, and nature that Germany offered. When asked if she thought Paris was suitable for women, she gave a cautious smile: “Sure—just maybe carry pepper spray!”