Australian men hold some of the most misogynistic views in the Western world, with the cohort ranking well above the global average in a country-by-country analysis on gender bias and online abuse by research firm Ipsos and the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership (GIWL).
The findings, published during Women’s History Month, showed 32% of Australian men agree that men have “lost out” economically, politically and socially “as a result of feminism.” The subgroup was the second-highest in the survey of 20,000 people in 30 nations, just behind Poland, and significantly higher than the 23% of men globally who agree.
The statement was agreed to by an average of 19% of men and women globally.
Australian men were once again the second-highest cohort surveyed, this time behind Saudi Arabia, to agree with the statement that “gender inequality doesn't really exist.”
Thirty per cent concurred against a global country average of 18%.
Similarly, more men in Australia believe “it’s a woman’s obligation to have sex with her boyfriend or husband even if she doesn’t feel like it” than men in any other survey country, excluding Malaysia. Meanwhile, almost 30% of Australian men believe "women who say they were abused often make up or exaggerate claims of abuse or rape."
Almost 1 in 4 Australian men think using sexist or misogynistic language online is sometimes acceptable.
Really concerning research out by @IpsosUK and @GIWLkings for #IWD2022 shows 1 in 5 Australians thinks women who say they were abused make up or exaggerate claims of abuse or rape.
— Julia Gillard (@JuliaGillard) March 8, 2022
We must do better.
More >> https://t.co/WltuhhLsjw
Former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who leads GIWL, says “enough is enough.”
"Sexual violence against women has been a huge focus of our community debate thanks to the bravery of Brittany Higgins, Grace Tame and so many other courageous women,” she said in an Ipsos statement. “Now comes this research with its shocking findings about underlying male attitudes and how much worse they are in Australia compared with other countries.”
Gillard added: “Our nation should be a leader on gender equality, not lagging so far behind. We need profound change.”
Over the past two years, a plethora of damning data has emerged on Australia’s systemic gender-inequality problem.
An unparalleled decade-long Australian review, released by the Bureau of Statistics (ABS) in 2021, showed men who earn less than their women partners are 35% more likely to commit physical and sexual violence against their breadwinning spouse.
A separate February report by research organisation ANROWS upheld the ABS data. Its report uncovered "clear evidence" that pandemic-related economic stressors correlate to an onset and escalation of domestic violence by men against their partners.
Australia’s gender pay gap currently sits at 12.3% — above the OECD average of 11.6%.
Last year, it was revealed Australia had implemented just 25% of its international obligations to advance women's progress.