New Delhi: A new research study from the University of Melbourne reveals that young people are significantly more likely to hold hostile attitudes towards women.
Published on 14 August, the study, titled Misogyny, Online Radicalisation, and Youth Extremism in Australia, surveyed 1,122 young people aged 13–17 and 2,307 adults. More than 500 Australian school teachers were also surveyed about their attitudes towards women, gender, misogyny and extremism in classrooms.
“These attitudes were far more prevalent among the young people surveyed, and of everything we measured, these hostile views were the single strongest predictor of support for violent extremism,” said Dr Sara Meger, an author of the study and researcher at the University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Arts.
Findings of the study
According to the study, 31.8 per cent of boys aged 13–17 believed that attempts to give equal opportunities to women in Australia have gone too far, while 30.1 per cent believed men have more of a right to a job than women in times of job scarcity.
The study also found that 24.7 per cent believed feminism is damaging society and should be resisted with violence if necessary.
According to the study, teenage girls also shared similar views to adult men on several measures. Gen Z women were twice as likely as Millennial women, and four times as likely as Gen X women, to agree that marriage entitles a husband to sex with his wife, even if she does not want to.
The study found that these attitudes were associated with the online content young people were consuming.
“Engagement with ‘manosphere’ content, pornography and online dating showed the strongest links to misogynistic views. This study shows that the problems with misogyny are structural, not individual,” said Meger.
Also Read: The manosphere built a multi-million-dollar business by monetising male loneliness
Recommendations for policy reform
The Australian study identifies several recommendations for policy reform, including starting respectful relationships education earlier, recognising misogyny within counter-extremism approaches, and strengthening regulation of online platforms and algorithms.
“The findings highlighted the impact of harmful online content on young people. Our social media feeds and algorithms have become fertile ground for content that promotes violence against women and girls, and we’re seeing the consequences unfold in schools and communities across the country,” said Chanel Contos, CEO of Teach Us Consent, a youth-led non-profit organisation.
Patty Kinnersly, CEO of Our Watch, said the study’s findings reinforced the need for earlier intervention and prevention.
“This study adds to the growing evidence that misogynistic attitudes are linked to real-world violence and harm. The good news is these attitudes are not inevitable, and we know what helps prevent them from taking hold. Given that these attitudes can form during adolescence, prevention has to start earlier,” said Kinnersly.
(Edited by Maryam Hassan)