1

CANADIAN WOMEN’S FOUNDATION

CAMPAIGN TO END VIOLENCE
2018 RESEARCH
2018 REPORT

Maru/Matchbox - Confidential
 Methodology 2

5 minute online quantitative survey, hosted on

What Maru/Matchbox’s industry leading panel, the Maru Voice
Canada

1,502 Canadians, aged 18 and over. Weighted on age,

Who gender and region to be representative of Canada overall

When April 23 to April 27, 2018

Reporting convention: throughout the report Millennial is used to describe those aged 18-34. Gen X for
those aged 35-54 and Boomer for those aged 55+
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 Key Takeaways and Implications 3

There is confusion and a disconnect about what constitutes consent and this
has only increased over time
• Women and men differ greatly on the extent to which they see enthusiastic and behavioural actions as consent.
• Millennials however, are more likely to agree that most actions indicate consent, while older generations are less
sure.
• Despite this broad understanding of consent, half of women (55% of Millennial women) say they have felt
pressured to consent to unwanted sexual activity.

When it comes to willingness to speak up because of #MeToo:

• Boomer women are the most likely group to be willing to speak up in the face of unwanted attention.
• are feeling more able to
Millennial women are the least likely of all female groups to be willing to speak up.
speak up about unwanted attention, but some groups, are still struggling to feel
empowered. Creating mentorships and partnerships across genders and ages will be
important to highlight that we are all seeking a solution together

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 Key Takeaways and Implications 4

Education around consent is the top next step Canadians expect to see
coming after #MeToo
• Education on consent is the top step highlighted by all age groups and genders. Boomer men place heavy
importance on consent education.
• However, women and Millennial women in particular, place more importance on the support services and
changing policy issues.

Despite the light shone on harassment by the #MeToo movement, few

Canadians feel the next generation will benefit from less exposure to
harassment
• Three quarters of Canadians think the next generation of women are as or are more likely to experience sexual
assault.
• Millennials are the most likely to feel that the next generation is as or more likely to experience sexual
harassment at school, work and in public.
• Women are significantly more likely to say they know a woman who has been sexually or physically assaulted.

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 What is Consent? 5

Millennials (18-34) have a much clearer idea of what constitutes consent than older age
groups – particularly boomers (55+)
% Selected
Total 18-34 35-54 55+

74%
72%
70% 70%
66%
64%
62%
60%
56%
54%
51% 50%
44% 45% 45%

36%

15%
12% 11%10% 11%
9% 9% 9%
7% 7% 7%
4% 5% 5% 5%
2%

Verbal consent Ongoing consent Enthusiastic consent Behavioural consent Previous consent Written consent Permission from None of these
parents

QCONSENT.Which of the following would you need to have from another person to ensure any sexual activity is consensual? Significantly
Base: All; Total (n=1502), 18-34 (n=430), 35-54 (n=562), 55+ (n=511) higher
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 What is Consent? 6

% Selected
Total Male Female

70% 70% 71%

65%
62%
60%
56%
51% 52%
46% 45%
38%

15%
12% 11%
9% 9% 8%
7% 7% 7%
4% 5% 4%

Verbal consent Ongoing consent Enthusiastic consent Behavioural consent Previous consent Written consent Permission from None of these
parents

QCONSENT.Which of the following would you need to have from another person to ensure any sexual activity is consensual? Significantly
Base: All; Total (n=1502), Males (n=734), Females (n=768) higher
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 What is Consent? 7

Quebec residents are much less likely than those from other provinces to feel that most option posed are in fact, consent.
Atlantic residents are the least likely to see enthusiastic and behavioural cues as consent.
There is little difference among the other provinces.

Total BC AB MB/SK ON QC ATL

Base size 1502 195 162 99 562 369 114

Verbal consent 70% 72% 70% 77% 76% 60% 69%

Ongoing consent 62% 64% 68% 62% 69% 49% 62%

Enthusiastic consent 51% 57% 63% 59% 52% 43% 40%

Behavioural consent 45% 56% 51% 53% 46% 36% 35%

Previous consent 12% 11% 15% 13% 11% 12% 12%

Written consent 9% 5% 10% 5% 7% 15% 9%

Permission from parents 4% 2% 4% 6% 2% 9% 2%

None of these 7% 2% 3% 4% 3% 20% 4%

QCONSENT.Which of the following would you need to have from another person to ensure any sexual activity is consensual?
Significantly higher

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 Consent Over Time 8

There is a significant decline in the proportion of Canadians selecting any and all of the “correct”
forms of consent compared to 2015.

% Selected
2018 2015

78%
% Define Correctly*
70%
66% 2018 2015
62% 61%
28% 33%
51% 53%
45%

12% 13%
9% 7%
6% 4% 4%
1%

Verbal consent Ongoing consent Enthusiastic consent Behavioural consent Previous consent Written consent Permission from None of these
parents
Significantly
*Correct defined as selecting yes to all of verbal, ongoing, enthusiastic and behavioural consent. higher
2018 QCONSENT. Which of the following would you need to have from another person to ensure any sexual activity is consensual? Base: Total (n=1502)
2015 Q2. Which of the following forms of consent would someone need to have from a potential partner to make any sexual activity consensual? Base: Total (n=1355)
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 Unwanted Behaviours 9

Half of Canadians say they have received unwanted attention of a sexual nature, while one third
have felt pressured to consent to an unwanted sexual activity.
• This is significantly higher among Millennials, where 2 in 5 have felt pressured to consent.

% Received Unwanted Attention % Felt Pressured to Consent

Total 18-34 35-54 55+
Total 18-34 35-54 55+
54%
52% 51% 50%

41%
36% 37%

30%

Significantly
QUNWANTEDATTENTION. Have you ever received unwanted attention of a sexual nature? higher
QPRESSURECONSENT. Have you ever felt pressured to consent to an unwanted sexual activity? Base: All; Total (n=1502), 18-34 (n=430), 35-54 (n=562), 55+ (n=511)
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 Unwanted Behaviours 10

Two thirds of women say they have received unwanted attention of a sexual nature, while one
half have felt pressured to consent to an unwanted sexual activity.

% Received Unwanted Attention % Felt Pressured to Consent

Total Male Female
Total Male Female

67%

52%
50%

36% 36%

21%

Significantly
QUNWANTEDATTENTION. Have you ever received unwanted attention of a sexual nature? higher
QPRESSURECONSENT. Have you ever felt pressured to consent to an unwanted sexual activity? Base: All; Total (n=1502), Males (n=734), Females (n=768)
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 Unwanted Behaviours 11

Millennial and Gen X Women are significantly more likely than Boomer women to say they have felt pressured
to consent to unwanted sexual activity

Female (18-34) Female (35-54) Female (55+) Male (18-34) Male (35-54) Male (55+)

70%
67%
64%

55%
52%

43%
40%

33% 33%

26%
22%

15%

% Received unwanted attention % Pressured to consent

Significantly
higher
QUNWANTEDATTENTION. Have you ever received unwanted attention of a sexual nature? QPRESSURECONSENT. Have you ever felt pressured to consent to an unwanted
sexual activity? Base: All; Total (n=1502), Males 18-34 (n=206), Males 35-54 (n=280), Males 55+ (n=283), Females 18-34 (n=157), Females 35-54 (n=295), Females 55+ (n=281)
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 Unwanted Behaviours 12

Quebec residents are significantly less likely to feel they have received unwanted attention.
Atlantic, Manitoba/Saskatchewan, and Ontario residents are significantly more likely than others
to have felt pressured to consent to unwanted sexual activity.

Total BC AB MB/SK ON QC ATL

Base size 1502 195 162 99 562 369 114

Unwanted attention 70% 54% 54% 54% 55% 42% 57%

Pressure to consent 62% 35% 36% 41% 37% 30% 44%

Significantly higher
QUNWANTEDATTENTION. Have you ever received unwanted attention of a sexual nature?
QPRESSURECONSENT. Have you ever felt pressured to consent to an unwanted sexual activity?
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 Speaking Up 13

Boomers (55+) are significantly more likely to say they would speak up about unwanted
attention in any location than their younger counterparts.
% More Likely to Speak Up
Total 18-34 35-54 55+

71%
67% 67% 66%
65% 64%
62%
59% 60% 59%
57% 58%
55% 56%
54% 53%

In an intimate encounter At work At school In public

QMETOOA. [Yes Summary Table] Would you say you are more likely to speak up if you receive unwanted attention of a sexual nature?
QMETOOB. In the era of #MeToo, would you say you are more likely to speak up if you feel uncomfortable during an intimate sexual encounter? Significantly
Base: All; Total (n=1502), 18-34 (n=430), 35-54 (n=562), 55+ (n=511) higher
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 Speaking Up 14

% More Likely to Speak Up 56% of women would

Total Male Female speak up in all locations
(work, school or in public)
72%
69%
66% 67%
65%
62%
59% 58%
57%
54%
52%
49%

In an intimate encounter At work At school In public

QMETOOA. [Yes Summary Table] Would you say you are more likely to speak up if you receive unwanted attention of a sexual nature? Significantly
QMETOOB. In the era of #MeToo, would you say you are more likely to speak up if you feel uncomfortable during an intimate sexual encounter? higher
Base: All; Total (n=1502), Males (n=734), Females (n=768)
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 Speaking Up 15

The influence of age on likelihood to speak up is particularly clear among Boomer vs. Millennial Women
Millennial women are directionally more likely to speak up in a personal encounter or public than at work or
school

% More Likely to Speak Up % yes to all

(work, school, public)
Female (18-34) Female (35-54) Female (55+) Male (18-34) Male (35-54) Male (55+)
44% 55% 65%
80%
74% 76% 73% 74%
69%
65% 66% 65%
60% 58% 61% 62%
57% 57% 59%
54% 52%
50% 51% 49% 47% 48% 47%

In an intimate encounter At work At school In public Significantly

QMETOOA. [Yes Summary Table] Would you say you are more likely to speak up if you receive unwanted attention of a sexual nature? higher
QMETOOB. In the era of #MeToo, would you say you are more likely to speak up if you feel uncomfortable during an intimate sexual encounter?
Base: All; Total (n=1502), Males 18-34 (n=206), Males 35-54 (n=280), Males 55+ (n=283), Females 18-34 (n=157), Females 35-54 (n=295), Females 55+ (n=281)
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 Speaking Up 16

Residents from Manitoba/Saskatchewan and Quebec are significantly less likely to

speak up about unwanted attention than other provinces

Total BC AB MB/SK ON QC ATL

Base size 1502 195 162 99 562 369 114

In an intimate encounter 65% 61% 61% 57% 67% 67% 69%

At Work 62% 63% 65% 58% 64% 54% 73%

At School 59% 63% 60% 52% 62% 50% 72%

In Public 58% 61% 58% 56% 63% 50% 64%

QMETOOA. [Yes Summary Table] Would you say you are more likely to speak up if you receive unwanted attention of a sexual nature? Significantly higher
QMETOOB. In the era of #MeToo, would you say you are more likely to speak up if you feel uncomfortable during an intimate sexual encounter?
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 Ranking Next Steps 17

Educating people about consent is the first next step for most Canadians, followed by
changing policy around how disclosures are handled
• Millennials place more importance on creating support services than older groups
Rank 1
A. Educating people about how to get and give consent
B. Changing policy around how sexual assault and sexual harassment disclosures are handled
C. Creating more support services for survivors
D. Providing ways that survivors can speak out about their experiences

48%
44% 45%

38%

28%
25% 24% 25%
23%
20% 21%
15% 15%
11% 10% 10%

A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D
Total 18-34 35-54 55+

QNEXTSTEPS. [Rank 1 Summary Table] In the era of #MeToo, how would you rank the following potential next steps? Significantly
Base: All; Total (n=1502), 18-34 (n=430), 35-54 (n=562), 55+ (n=511) higher
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 Ranking Next Steps 18

Males are most likely to point to education on giving/getting consent, while women show
comparably more interest in changing policy on disclosures and creating support services
Rank 1
A. Educating people about how to get and give consent
B. Changing policy around how sexual assault and sexual harassment disclosures are handled
C. Creating more support services for survivors of sexual assault and sexual harassment
D. Providing ways that survivors can speak out about their experiences

48%
44%
40%

27%
25% 24% 23%
20%
17%
11% 11% 11%

A B C D A B C D A B C D
Total Male Female

QNEXTSTEPS. [Rank 1/2 Summary Table] In the era of #MeToo, how would you rank the following potential next steps? Significantly
Base: All; Total (n=1502), Males (n=734), Females (n=768) higher
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 Ranking Next Steps 19

Boomer men are significantly more likely to feel that education on consent should be the
next step coming from #MeToo
Millennial women are as likely to point to consent as they are to creating support services

Total Female (18-34) Female (35-54) Female (55+) Male (18-34) Male (35-54) Male (55+)

Educating people about how to get and give

44% 33% 43% 42% 43% 47% 54%
consent

Changing policy around how sexual assault and

25% 24% 25% 31% 22% 25% 24%
sexual harassment disclosures are handled

Creating more support services for survivors of

20% 30% 23% 17% 19% 18% 13%
sexual assault and sexual harassment

Providing ways that survivors of sexual assault

and sexual harassment can speak out about their 11% 13% 10% 11% 16% 10% 9%
experiences

Significantly higher
QNEXTSTEPS. [Rank 1/2 Summary Table] In the era of #MeToo, how would you rank the following potential next steps?
Base: All; Total (n=1502), Males 18-34 (n=206), Males 35-54 (n=280), Males 55+ (n=283), Females 18-34 (n=157), Females 35-54 (n=295), Females 55+ (n=281)
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 Ranking Next Steps 20

Education people on consent is the top priority across the provinces. With the exception
of Quebec, all select changing policy as the second choice.
Quebec residents are divided on their preference for changing policy, creating support
services and providing ways to survivors to speak out

Rank 1/2
Total BC AB MB/SK ON QC ATL
Base size 1502 195 162 99 562 369 114

Educating people about how to get and give

44% 47% 41% 37% 45% 41% 52%
consent

Changing policy around how sexual assault and

25% 25% 26% 32% 27% 21% 25%
sexual harassment disclosures are handled

Creating more support services for survivors of

20% 18% 23% 24% 17% 24% 14%
sexual assault and sexual harassment
Providing ways that survivors of sexual assault
and sexual harassment can speak out about their 11% 10% 10% 7% 12% 14% 9%
experiences

QNEXTSTEPS. [Rank 1/2 Summary Table] In the era of #MeToo, how would you rank the following potential next steps?
Significantly higher

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 Thank You 21

Contact
Jacqueline Campbell
Director, Public Affairs
Direct Line: +1 647.691.7764
Jacqueline.Campbell @marumatchbox.com