The #MeToo movement is approaching its six-month mark, leaving behind a trail of headlines and toppled media stars. But Americans seem surprisingly skeptical about its lasting impact on the workforce.
A recent Pew poll of 6,251 adults released Wednesday found 51 percent of respondents believe "in the long run, the increased focus on sexual harassment and assault" actually "won't make much of a difference." Only 28 percent said it would lead to "more opportunities for women in the workplace."
But when asked whether that increased focus has made it easier or harder for men "to know how to interact with women in the workplace" only 36 percent said it "hasn't made much of a difference," while 51 percent said it's made it harder for men.
Interestingly, Pew found a pronounced age gap on this question, with 42 percent of the 18-29 demographic agreeing things have become harder for men, versus 52 percent of the 50-64 demographic and 66 percent of the 65+ demographic.
Overall, only 36 percent of adults said the increased focus on sexual harassment and assault hasn't made much of a difference for men to know how to work with women, perhaps undercutting the narrative that #MeToo is functioning in large part as a teachable moment.
Democrats and Democratic-leaning adults were more likely than their Republican counterparts to say the increased focus on harassment and assault would lead to more opportunities for women in the workplace by a margin of 39 to 15 percent.
The survey was conducted online from late February to mid-March and its margin of error is plus or minus 1.9 percentage points.
With a majority of respondents expressing both cynicism that changes spurred by #MeToo will have any staying power and concern for its impact on co-ed workplace interactions, Pew's research is cause for consideration.
