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Trends in Sexual Harassment in the United States: Analysis of the 2018 and 2024 #MeToo Surveys
Anita Raj1, Clare Daniel1, Priyanka Patel1
1Anita Raj, Clare Daniel, Priyanka Patel, Namratha Rao, and K. S. James are with the Newcomb Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA.
Abstract:
Objectives. To evaluate change in past-year sexual harassment from 2018 to 2024. Methods. #MeToo surveys assessed past-year sexual harassment with US adults (n = 5293) recruited via phone and online in 2018 and 2024. Logistic regression analysis estimated the odds of reporting past-year sexual harassment in 2024 relative to 2018, adjusting for sociodemographics. Results. Reported past-year sexual harassment doubled, from 10.7% in 2018 to 24.3% in 2024 (men: 6.7% to 15.2%; women: 14.3% to 31.8%; P < .001). The odds of reporting past-year sexual harassment were nearly 3 times higher in 2024 than in 2018 (adjusted odds ratio = 2.80; 95% confidence interval = 2.35, 3.33). Conclusions. Reported past-year sexual harassment in the United States increased from 2018 to 2024, indicating either an increase in sexual harassment or an increase in disclosure rates after the #MeToo movement. Although prior evidence indicates that awareness and policy protections for workplace harassment have improved since the #MeToo movement, this has not led to declines in sexual harassment. Future policies should expand protection from sexual harassment to include public and online spaces and support stronger accountability structures. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print July 23, 2026:e1-e5. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2026.308577).
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