Since it hit the mainstream last fall, the #MeToo movement has sent shockwaves through our collective consciousness, revealing predators in some of our most respected positions and forcing all of us to re-evaluate our behavior. But despite how pervasive the phrase has become, would you be shocked to know that 41 percent of men have purportedly never heard of #MeToo?
That’s what a survey jointly conducted by Glamour and GQ revealed as the magazines asked 1,000 men across the United States ages 18-55 about how the #MeToo movement has affected their lives. Aside from the 41 percent who claim not to have heard of the movement, 47 percent admitted that they’d yet to discuss it with anyone—a frightening finding when we consider how important a conversation about sexual misconduct is for the men in our lives.
In the survey, which used digital insight company Toluna, over 1,100 men were anonymously interviewed, revealing a broad range of responses to the impact and importance of calling out sexual abusers and predatory behavior. Among the findings:
- Men who had discussed #MeToo were more likely to have talked about it with other men, specifically male friends (38 percent) or male family (33 percent). Only 31 percent had discussed #MeToo with female friends, while 24 percent said that they’d discussed it with female family members.
- 38 percent of men said that #MeToo has made them re-evaluate their past sexual experiences, with younger men being more likely to do so.
- 84 percent of men expressed concern that sexual-misconduct accusations could jeopardize the reputations of innocent men.
- 77 percent of men surveyed felt it necessary to confirm consent during each stage of a sexual encounter.
- 4 out of 5 men agreed with a zero-tolerance policy for all types of sexual harassment.
- 68 percent of men agreed that the #MeToo movement could improve equality in the workplace.
While there’s clearly significant work to be done in improving communication with men about the myriad issues that make the #MeToo movement—and their active participation in it—imperative, it’s encouraging that a majority of men are re-evaluating their behavior, placing a high value on consent, and expressing support for equality and safety in the workplace.
The Glow Up tip: More data from the survey and information about the #MeToo movement is available at glamour.com/metoo.