Nearly ten years after the #MeToo movement transformed the national conversation about sexual abuse and harassment, a troubling question remains. Has the problem improved, increased, or are more people simply recognizing and reporting it?

Awareness alone hasn't made the problem disappear. In fact, according to a new study, Americans are reporting sexual harassment at much higher rates than they did just six years ago.

Women continue to experience sexual harassment at substantially higher rates than men, although reports increased for both sexes. The largest increase occurred among people living in the southern part of the United States.

Investigators at Tulane University's Newcomb Institute reviewed nationally representative survey responses of nearly 5,300 U.S. adults age 18 and older. The surveys were done in 2018 and again in 2024 to see whether reports of sexual harassment had changed over time.

Participants answered questions about whether they had experienced sexual harassment during the previous year. Sexual harassment was defined broadly — it included unwanted behaviors ranging from catcalling and sexually explicit comments to stalking and unwanted sexual touching. Separate questions assessed experiences of sexual assault, defined as forced or coerced sexual acts.

The results were sobering. In 2018, over 10 percent of adults reported experiencing sexual harassment during the previous year. By 2024, that number had more than doubled — climbing to over 24 percent.

After adjusting for differences in age, race, education and other demographic factors, the researchers found that the odds of reporting sexual harassment were nearly three times higher in 2024 than they had been six years earlier. Women continue to experience sexual harassment at substantially higher rates than men, although reports increased for both sexes. The largest increase occurred among people living in the southern part of the United States.

Even with the extensive data, the study couldn't answer one critical question: has sexual harassment become more common, or are people simply more willing to recognize and report experiences that previously went unspoken?

Senior author, Anita Raj, executive director of the Newcomb Institute at Tulane University, cautions against drawing conclusions about why the numbers increased: “This study shows that sexual harassment remains a common experience in Americans' lives. What we cannot tell from these data is whether sexual harassment has increased or whether more people now recognize and report these experiences. Either way, the findings show that awareness alone has not solved the problem.”

That uncertainty doesn't lessen the importance of the findings, the researchers say. Whether the increase reflects changing behavior or changing awareness, millions of Americans continue to experience harassment every year.

Additional findings from the Newcomb institute's companion #MeToo report paint an equally concerning picture.

Sexual harassment was defined broadly — it included unwanted behaviors ranging from catcalling and sexually explicit comments to stalking and unwanted sexual touching.

More than four out of five women reported experiencing sexual harassment or sexual assault at some point during their lifetime, while nearly half of men said they had experienced one of these forms of abuse. Public places, including streets, parks, stores, gyms and public transportation, were among the most common locations where harassment occurred, often involving strangers.

These experiences frequently begin early in life, the survey also found. More than half of women reported first experiencing harassment or assault before turning 18, highlighting how early exposure can shape emotional well-being and feelings of personal safety.

Especially high lifetime rates of sexual harassment were found among transgender, common non-binary and gender-nonconforming individuals. Previous research has linked sexual harassment of gender-nonconforming people with increased risks of anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress and substance abuse disorders, making sexual harassment not simply an uncomfortable experience, but a significant public health concern.

More than half of women reported first experiencing harassment or assault before turning 18.

Since the #MeToo movement gained worldwide attention in 2017, lawmakers have enacted new workplace protections and strengthened reporting procedures in many settings. Yet the Tulane researchers say the recent findings suggest much more work remains, particularly in public spaces, schools and other environments where harassment continues to occur.

The authors conclude that preventing sexual harassment must remain a public health priority. Greater awareness has encouraged more people to speak up, but awareness alone is not enough. Lasting progress will require continued education, stronger prevention efforts, meaningful accountability and support for those who experience harassment.

This study underscores a simple, yet powerful point: awareness of sexual harassment matters, but it doesn't solve the problem by itself. The next challenge is turning awareness into meaningful prevention and protecting future generations.

The study is published in the American Journal of Public Health.