Men called on to join team raising awareness of gender-based violence through sport

More men are being called on to join a team tackling domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence.

New survey findings published to launch Phase Two of the Game Changer project, a partnership between Gaelic Games, Ruhama and, White Ribbon Ireland, reveal the importance of engaging men and boys in combatting gender-based violence.

87 per cent of people in Ireland believe men have an important role to play in combatting gender-based inequality and violence.

41 per cent of women aged 18-34 in Ireland have experienced either sexual harassment, unsolicited sexual remarks, or felt a threat of gender-based intimidation or violence when taking part in sports or physical exercise.

In other settings, 77 per cent of 18-34-year-old women in Ireland have experienced being ‘cat called’ in the street; 70 per cent have been unwantedly stared or looked at in a sexually suggestive way by a stranger; 31 per cent have been stalked or followed; and 26 per cent have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace.

These are among the findings of a new nationally representative Red C survey of men and women in the State published on Monday to mark the launch of the second phase of the Game Changer project that aims to raise awareness and action through sport to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) in Ireland.

The survey found that men in Ireland are less likely than women to view certain behaviours, including ‘cat calling’, being sent unsolicited sexual images, and being subject to unwanted sexual gestures or comments as rising to the level of sexual harassment, with this gap most pronounced amongst young men aged 18-34.

Further insights show that most Irish people have a low tolerance of sexual harassment, with 84 per cent