Awareness video

When masculinist discourse fuels sexual violence

67 %

67% of professionals working with Canadian youth have witnessed incidents where masculinism was linked to gender-based violence.

Source: White Ribbon x Angus Reid, 2025

75%

In Québec, 75% of youth aged 15–25 endorse myths that question the credibility of sexual violence victims.

Source: Baril & al., 2025

7/10

In Québec, more than 7 in 10 youth endorse myths that shift responsibility away from perpetrators of sexual violence.

Source: Source: Baril & al., 2025

91%

91% of respondents to an FAE survey reported an increase in misogynistic and homophobic remarks in Québec schools.

Source: Dupuis-Déri & FAE, 2026

34%

34% of Montréal students endorse masculinist ideas.

Source: Miconi & al., 2023

60%

60% of videos recommended by social media algorithms contain toxic messages (misogynistic, sexist, promoting dominant and violent masculinity) after only a bit of engagement.

Source: Baker & Ging, 2024

These findings take place against the backdrop of the manosphere, where masculinist discourse circulates and becomes normalized, shaping beliefs, fueling misconceptions about consent, and trivializing certain forms of violence.

Youth must navigate digital environments where misogynistic and antifeminist content spreads massively. Pressure to perform a dominant form of masculinity, to make homophobic remarks, to slut-shame and to minimize sexual violence: it all contributes to a continuum that undermines a culture of respect, consent and equality in higher education—as well as in society more broadly.

The Consent is Key campaign has chosen to tackle this reality head-on with a new theme on the masculinist discourse that fuels sexual violence within colleges and universities.

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