Young men today are more misogynistic than before? If I had to answer this question, I would not hesitate to say no emphatically. In my opinion, the new generations accept gender equality much more naturally and influence the change in mentality that is taking place in society. But my point of view does not coincide with the negative trend of police statistics, nor with surveys among the youth population that show surprising results.
Thus, a recent INE report, released last Tuesday, assured that sexist violence is skyrocketing among those under 18 years of age. The number of adolescents reported grew by 71% when comparing 2020 with 2021 and the majority of the aggressors were young men. According to the aforementioned study, there is a setback in the awareness of youth about what machismo and violence mean. A 2021 FAD survey also maintained that the percentage of boys (from 15 to 29 years old) who deny that gender-based violence exists or downplays it is growing. While more and more girls consider this violence to be a very serious social problem –72.4% in 2017, 74.2% in 2021–, fewer and fewer boys agree with this affirmation.
If we add to this trend the increase in rapes suffered by many young women and the execrable attitude of gangs that act as packs to force multiple sex, we come to the conclusion that as a society we have a problem. What is happening to us? Sociologists point to a multitude of causes, but they specify one: the ease with which many minors access digital porn and adopt violent and sexist stereotypes.
The best way to fight against it continues to be education, both at school and in the family, and it should not be taken as a joke. The political parties that, like Vox, underestimate or, in some cases, even deny the existence of gender-based violence should also rethink their discourse. Especially now that they begin to occupy government chairs. It would be nice if we didn’t take steps backwards.
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