Metro readers react to news just 11% of women have a ‘very positive’ view of men

When we asked men to react to the news that just 11% of young women hold a ‘very positive’ view of them, for the most part, it gave us hope.

Guys like father-of-two, Jay, and 35-year-old Jaskaran, stood in solidarity with women, acknowledging that there’s a lot to be concerned by.

So, we cast the net even wider, posting the statistic on social media.

Keen to weigh in, many commenters understood why women might feel this way. On the other side of the coin though, there were accusations of misandry, as well as some pretty clear contempt for women.

Here’s what Metro readers had to say about it all — and if you’ve got more thoughts to share, leave a comment below.

‘Our hearts bleed’

Sadly, many commenters were unwilling to understand the female perspective.

‘Our hearts bleed,’ said Jamie Gibson, sarcastically. ‘They can keep that view, just stay over there with it and us men will be fine.’

Reader Marcos Ferreira has been with his partner for nearly 20 years, but claimed that, with women viewing men the way they do, if he broke up with his partner he’d rather be alone.

‘I’d rather stay single than to even bother with another woman in today’s world,’ he said. ‘They can keep the bear, I keep my sanity and the money.’

Marcos is referencing the viral TikTok debate of 2024, where some women felt it would be safer to be trapped alone in a forest with a bear, rather than a man.

Another reader, Craig Barnes, suspects a similar amount of men view women negatively too, commenting: ‘There aren’t many decent women around now, especially ones with morals. The decent ones are usually taken… younger ones are worse. So many are utterly toxic.’

However, there were many who took time to advocate for women.

‘Plenty of men on [this comment section] crying about “toxic feminism“‘, Jack Whiting said. ‘But if it’s evidence backed, it’s just factual. I don’t feel my wife is safe walking home but I don’t think it’s because of women at all.’

Reader Thimas Chung felt similarly, saying: ‘Some men feel threatened by calling out their toxic masculine trait, simply because toxic masculinity forms part of their identity, and that ought to come to an end.’

Another, Jack Andrew, was astounded by the many accusations of men-hating in the comments.

‘It’s staggering how many men have shown up in this comments section essentially just to say “No, it’s just misandry“‘, he wrote. ‘Guys, did you even read the article? Do you honestly not see how these comments can only make the problem worse?’

Tim Inn added: ‘Her views, her body, her choice! Not that hard to understand. Do better and be an ally, not be so toxic!’

‘Accept the facts’

Understandably, many women felt discouraged by the abundance of negative views under Metro‘s story, to which Shane Williams wrote: ‘Judging by the comments already, women are right to mistrust and hate men.’

Eider Gomez took a more balanced approach, saying: ‘From experience of being surrounded by a few good men, none of them get offended by such statistics cause they understand the circumstances around it. Only the other type of men do.’

Reader Serena pleaded with men to ‘accept the facts mentioned in the article’ because ‘everyone’s lives will be better’.

‘I’m sick and tired of men moaning about any piece of information that might slightly threaten their manliness,’ she added.

Some women could understand how reading something like this as a man could be upsetting.

‘I completely understand why some decent men are frustrated by this poll and want to say “not all men”,’ Lesley Christie said. ‘Unfortunately there is no way for women to know which men and if we make a mistake, we may not be alive to learn from it.

‘When the consequences of a decision may be sexual assault or death, you tend to be over cautious. That’s a completely normal response to a situation women don’t want and didn’t choose. Any human would do the same.’

Ultimately, reader Hannah offered a simple solution: ‘If men want to be viewed positively, they need to work to distance themselves from the herd and actively work to end violence against women. Otherwise their silence makes them just as bad.’

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

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