This year, 55 people have already died as a result of sexist violence, which is 6 more than in 2022. According to the internal crime report, a rape is reported every two hours; and from January to June, the total number of complaints about crimes against sexual freedom and redress increased by 13.2% to 9,560, i.e. more than two complaints of sexual violence per hour (with and without penetration). While administrations remain alarmed by the rise of these cases, which continue to rise, there is a growing backlash against sexist violence, especially among younger boys.

According to the Youth and Gender Barometer 2023, prepared by the Reina Sofia Center Fad Juventud and funded by the government delegation against gender-based violence of the Ministry of Equality, 23.1% of young men aged 15 to 29 agree that “Gender violence does not exist and it is an ideological invention”, when 12% of boys supported this statement in 2019. As for girls, 13.2% of them agree with this, while in 2019 it was 5.7%.

Stribor Kuric, a doctoral candidate in sociology and one of the report’s authors, admits that the data is “alarming and negative.” “There is tendency to deny or minimize the consequences of sexist violence”, especially among boys,” says the doctor, although he emphasizes that “this reactionary trend is not something Spanish, but global.”

The rise of far-right political parties and the new digital ecosystem are fueling anti-feminist discourses.

Stribor Kuric, Doctor of Sociological Sciences

This phenomenon, he said, “is not isolated” and “there are many factors that lead them to believe this discourse.” These include the rise of “far-right political parties” and the fact that there is a “new digital ecosystem that is forcing them to feed anti-feminist speeches”. Actors who pollinate youth with their speech and make the little ones feel represented by them.

While it is true that awareness of sexist violence has increased among the general population in recent years, Young people aged 16 to 21 are the least aware. and those who are less “internal” to the concept of sexist violence. Here’s what the study says Intolerance carried out by the Mutua Madrileña Foundation and Antenna 3 News.

More young people are denying or normalizing sexist violence, especially among those 16 and 21 years old. Every fifth young person believes that insulting a partner (22.6%), pushing or hitting after a quarrel (21.5%) is not violence.

How to dispel the myth?

The doctor of sociology regrets that anti-feminist reactions have intensified among young people. He places a special emphasis on education, which he believes is the key to stopping this behavior and thus raising awareness among the youngest people about this type of violence.

In fact, lack of education is cited by adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 29 as the factor most influencing gender-based violence, both for themselves and for themselves. For this reason, Kurić emphasizes that “this is not the exclusive task of young people, but of society as a whole.”

Doctor from the Reina Sofia Center Fad Juventud conducts various lectures and workshops aimed at raising awareness among teenagers about sexist violence. Recognize Independent that all sorts of behaviors were found during these behaviors, although he emphasizes that they are more clear about this. There are those who deny violence against women simply because they are women, or others who recognize and believe such abuse is unjustified.

Sometimes they found cases where they justified gender-based violence by saying that “the aggressor is an immigrant or an alcoholic” or “they pointed the finger at the victim because she did not report it.” For this reason, he insists that groups “need time” and “a safe space for discussion where both boys’ and girls’ concerns are addressed.” “There are elements that help them feel less constrained: they insist that all opinions are valid and that people who work with children are as close as possible to generate sympathy,” he adds.

“Even though it’s wrong, it’s inevitable.”

According to the Youth and Gender Barometer 2023, statements such as that gender-based violence “although wrong, has always existed and is inevitable”, “it is something common in couples” or “if it is low intensity, it is not a problem” also receive a higher rating. support than in previous years: the number of young people supporting them has doubled and even tripled.

A “problem” that Kuric was able to test in the workshops. “Talking to them, we see a sense of helplessness, a loss of responsibility,” he says. To this end, he insists that his participation in the seminars is necessary to raise awareness that “equality policies have an effect” and “an alternative is possible.”

87% admit to having witnessed an incident of sexist violence

Although the percentage of young people who deny sexist violence has increased, the vast majority are able to recognize gender-based violence in their environment. This is evidenced by 87% of those who said they had seen or heard some kind of situation of control violence, physical violence, psychological violence or sexual violence.

Despite the growing reactionary anti-feminist wave, the doctor of sociology is “optimistic.” “The vast majority agree that gender-based violence is a very serious social problem. We also don’t know whether it has intensified or is now more identified, but the obvious conclusion is that violence continues to exist,” concludes Kuric.