#IsThisOK?

‘I launched the [IsThisOK?] campaign back in 2021 because I knew we needed to do something to start a conversation and drive behaviour change. Women and girls have had to put up with this for far too long and I want to make it clear that it does not have a place here or anywhere else.’-

December 2021

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, launched a public engagement campaign aimed at men and boys – challenging their behaviours to tackle sexual harassment of women and girls in public spaces.

The campaign began with a powerful video highlighting the experiences women and girls face going about their daily lives. The video tells the story of a young woman being sexually harassed on social media, out jogging, coming out of a coffee shop and out at night.

The everyday behaviours in the video are engrained in society and sadly, some people may perceive them to be innocent.

These types of behaviour are unsolicited intrusions which make women feel uneasy, threatened or even vulnerable.

November 2022

We released two films to follow-up our original video as part of launching our second phase.

These films captured Greater Manchester residents’ experiences of gender-based violence, from being directly affected by the misbehaviour of perpetrators to witnessing a friend or family member being made to feel uncomfortable.

They also highlight how we as a city-region can take steps to challenge and reduce gender-based violence, and how men can be a key part of the solution.

December 2022 - March 2024

Our second campaign phase continued to show how calling out the most common forms of gender-based violence behaviours, such as unwanted comments, jokes and sexual harassment, can make a positive change. This phase is aimed at men and boys aged 18-35.

This campaign phase comprised a short film alongside a three-part film series and a podcast series, all of which encouraged men to get more involved in tackling gender-based violence, from highlighting examples of poor behaviour to discussing how to be an active male ally.

March 2024

We wanted to understand the reach and impact that #IsThisOK? has had on Greater Manchester. Namely, we wanted to know whether it had made men and boys more aware of what gender-based violence is and how it disproportionately affects women and girls, and that it had made men more confident in how to help challenge and reduce behaviour that isn't OK.

We surveyed 400 men and boys in Greater Manchester to ask whether they had seen the campaign and for their views on the message. We found that:

• We had over 4.1 million views of the campaign's second phase, running from December 2022 to March 2024.

• Over half of respondents to our survey (53%) said the campaign has made them think, feel, or want to do something differently as a result.

• 17% of the respondents said the campaign had made them reflect on their own behaviours towards women.

• 12% of survey respondents said it had made them learn about how they can help to reduce gender-based violence.

Below are some comments from our evaluation and from social media: 

“The more people are questioning and saying it’s not ok, the more likely the person will stop doing the thing that isn’t ok.”
- Male focus group participant. 

“It’s like question things. Like, is this ok, literally? Even if you’re not in the situation, thinking about it after…or it could even be [asking] the victim.”
- Male focus group participant.

“We need more of these, I get harassed on a daily basis.”
– YouTube comment.

“Men are given the space to sort this out, so it’s all of us working together…they are accepting responsibility, they need to do something.”
-  Female focus group participant.

“…alarmingly accurate -- literally a stream of examples I know my friends have experienced first hand in their everyday lives.”
– YouTube comment.

I’m interested in being part of the change - how do I get involved?

• Watch our videos about the importance of being an active bystander on YouTube - you'll find this on our Useful Links page.
• Share the videos you've watched on social media using the hashtag #IsThisOK?
• Check your own behaviour using what you've learned - remember, anyone who experiences abuse or harm as a result of their gender is a victim of gender-based violence.
• Discuss attitudes towards gender-based violence with your family, friends, colleagues and community, using the points raised in the podcast as a guide.

Be part of changing the story.
Follow #IsThisOK? on social media

TikTok (external website)

Instagram (external website)

Facebook (external website)

X (external website)

YouTube (external website)