The survey of 2,000 British women aged 18 to 30 found that just 35% of those under 25 view men positively at all. Respondents cited men's disregard for political issues and excessive focus on sexual desires as reasons for their negative views.
Recent incidents of violence against women have fuelled this sentiment. According to the UN, 137 women are killed daily by men globally. In April, Metro reported the conviction of a man for a prolonged sexual assault on a 13-year-old girl on a train. Another man was jailed for 11 years for killing his wife, who jumped off a bridge to escape him. A prolific upskirter targeted 20 women in a single evening.
Women are totally disillusioned when it comes to relationships with men.
Examples of sexism in media and advertising also contribute. Metro reported that last week the US President demanded a female newsreader be taken off air, calling her voice grating and her appearance unattractive. An advert at Bristol Airport for a tech company promoted a female AI colleague who 'will never ask for a pay rise'.
Reactions from men vary. According to Metro, Matt, 52, said the negative perception stems from phrases like 'men are always the problem' and 'toxic masculinity' used by women with little understanding, and that all men are judged by a 'vanishing minority'. Jay, 46, a father of two girls, told Metro that with male leaders dominating and men asserting authority, it is unsurprising women view men negatively. He agreed with the phrase 'not all men but always men'. Psychotherapist Natasha Silverman, quoted by Metro, said women are 'totally disillusioned' about relationships with men.
This perception is due to lines like 'men are always the problem' and 'toxic masculinity' that are bandied around by women with very little understanding of how the average man perceives this kind of hate speak.
All men are judged by the actions of a vanishing minority.