Study shows Dutch men rethinking sexual misconduct, but many still stay silent

The recent spotlight on sexual misconduct has caused some men to reconsider their views on the subject, a study by Ipsos I&O has shown. The study also looked at how men react when they observe others making inappropriate comments or gestures.

Ipsos points to the murder of 17-year-old Lisa in Duivendrecht last summer, which sparked widespread media attention on violence against women. It also brought more issues back into the spotlight, like femicide, the public harassment of women ,and sexual misconduct.

The survey found that over a quarter of men now more frequently consider their own potential sexually inappropriate behavior or remarks. They also report being more aware of such behavior among other men.

However, most men admitted that they do nothing when they observe another man's poor behavior towards women. This despite the fact that 70 percent of men think they should speak up when others make sexually-inappropriate comments or gestures.

Ipsos found that men often stay quiet because they are unsure if addressing the behavior is necessary or fear disrupting the group’s atmosphere. About half of those surveyed said they would be more willing to call out a friend’s inappropriate actions if others in the group backed them up.

The Dutch government is launching a campaign on Tuesday aimed at motivating men to intervene in cases of sexual misconduct toward women. Titled “Man, speak up!”, the initiative will run on television, in cinemas, online, and in the hospitality sector. The campaign was created in partnership with Mariëtte Hamer, the government commissioner for sexual misconduct and sexual violence.

The Ipsos research further reveals that half of the men surveyed feel that behavior is nowadays labeled as sexual misconduct too readily. Around 10 percent of respondents consider sexual misconduct to be a minor issue in the Netherlands.