Women in Jersey are doing “everything right”. They are more likely to eat well, exercise, avoid smoking and limit alcohol. They are, by almost every measurable lifestyle standard, healthier than men.
And yet they are less happy. More anxious. More fearful. More likely to feel unsafe walking home at night. More worried they will become victims of crime. More likely to report poorer health and lower well-being.
Life for women in Jersey is, by many measures, worse. That is not opinion, it is the conclusion drawn from the latest Jersey Opinions and Lifestyle Survey 2025.
And it lands at a moment when a very different narrative about gender is gaining traction online.
Because while the data paints a picture of inequality and unease, millions of young men are increasingly turning to a digital ecosystem that tells them the opposite: that they are the ones under threat.
A generation shaped by the “manosphere”
The release of Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere has dragged that world into the mainstream.
The documentary explores the growing influence of ultra-masculine online communities – a loose network of influencers, streamers and commentators who frame modern gender relations as a zero-sum battle.
Among those featured is UK streamer Harrison Sullivan, better known as HS TikkyTokky, who clashes with Mr Theroux over accusations that his content promotes misogyny.
But whilst a generation of boys are being raised on content that tells them women hold the power, the lived reality suggests the opposite.
Women in Jersey are more likely than men to report all four “healthy behaviours” – good diet, regular exercise, not smoking, and responsible alcohol consumption.
Men, meanwhile, are more likely to be overweight or obese (66% compared to 48% of women) and more likely to drink above recommended alcohol limits.
Despite this, women are more anxious (33% reporting high anxiety vs 24% of men) and more likely to report low happiness (13% vs 9%).
They are also worse off compared with women in the UK – with happiness levels around 7% lower, a gap far wider than that seen among men.
The survey also shows that across life satisfaction, happiness and feeling worthwhile, the gender gap is consistently more pronounced for women.
“We must be extremely vigilant against this”
Women are significantly less likely than men to feel “very safe” in virtually every setting, particularly at night.
Only 11% of women feel safe in a park or open space after dark.
The survey also found women are more worried than men that they may become victims of crime — from verbal abuse to sexual violence .
Meanwhile, nearly half of men (49%) strongly agree that Jersey is a safe place for everyone compared to just 28% of women.
Deputy Sam Mézec warned that the influence of manosphere content is already being felt locally.
“The rise of the ‘manosphere’ and other far-right internet content is an extremely worrying trend that Jersey is not immune from,” he said.
“When I speak to students in our schools, girls will often tell me that they are worried about the boys in their classes being taken in by the attitudes of people like Andrew Tate.
“We must be extremely vigilant against this and make sure that boys are not falling for these snake oil salesmen and their conspiracy theories.
“I’ve seen firsthand in my social group, people ruining their lives by becoming consumed by this nonsense and retreating from the rest of society because they become so filled with irrational hate that they can barely function.
“But it is down to all of us to reach out to others and make sure that our friends and family members aren’t falling for it.”
Deputy Mézec said the “most powerful response is to be personally engaging and challenge prejudice and hate whenever we find it”.
“If all people are hearing is what a far-right podcaster is saying, then they’re more likely to fall for it than if they are hearing the other side in their day-to-day lives,” he explained.
“So in our social circles, schools and places of work, we should not shy away from defending our diversity and inclusion, and in particular make it clear to young boys and men why this agenda is something that they benefit from too.”
Jersey considers anti-misogyny courses
A spokesperson for the Education Department confirmed the island would “consider” introducing anti-misogyny courses for young boys, following similar plans in the UK.
Teachers in England are set to receive training to identify and challenge misogynistic attitudes, with some pupils referred to behavioural programmes.
Two States Members said they support the introduction of anti-misogyny courses for young boys in Jersey.
St Martin Conastable Karen Shenton-Stone said she “would welcome the introduction of similar courses” in Jersey.
“This is not about alienating boys or young men, but about doing what we can to make people aware of misogyny in all its guises and how it leads to harm; about how they can help to build a community where everyone is safe and valued,” she explained.
Constable Shenton-Stone has already moved to accelerate scrutiny, successfully pushing for the Violence Against Women and Girls Taskforce to report before the next election — ensuring voters can hold candidates to account.
Deputy Louise Doublet echoed her support for anti-misogyny courses, arguing such education should sit within a broader PSHE curriculum.
She said: “We want our Jersey citizens living healthy happy lives, whatever gender they are – and it’s clear that there are different experiences depending on gender.
“I would assume that, actually, much of this is already being covered in Jersey, and I think that it is a sensible thing to do – to teach our children how to interact respectfully with one another.”
Deputy Doublet also called for a “time-use survey” to better understand how men and women experience daily life in Jersey.
“This is something that was recommended as part of the gender pay gap review many years ago, and it still hasn’t been actioned,” she said.
“I think this data that we have now is pointing towards the need for having that greater understanding, so we know exactly how to tackle these issues.”
