A single tradie was 'shocked' and 'disgusted' when she discovered the traumatic encounters some women have experienced while dating.
Dylan Barnett, from Brisbane, recently started dating again and discovered that 'every second woman' he met had previously been abused in some way.
'I had no idea this was going on. This is a failure of most men in the dating world,” the 27-year-old said in a now-viral TikTok video.
Dylan was so shocked by the vile behavior of other men that he was inspired to make the emotional clip to raise awareness and speak out.
“My message (to men) still remains the same: understand what is right and wrong, and respect boundaries,” he told FEMAIL.
Although Dylan Barnett knew that domestic and physical violence was a problem, he had no idea how many women had previously experienced some form of trauma. That's why he decided to speak out
Dylan said there seems to be a lot of “distrust, fear of connection and a whole world of hurt” among singles right now.
'Some women are even afraid to go out at night. I've heard some shocking first dare stories. Their walls are up in a way you wouldn't believe,” he said.
“Your intentions are constantly being questioned, which is understandable.
'Nowadays a nice movie date is no longer possible. It's an assumption that you only want one thing.'
'I had no idea this was going on. This is a failure of most men in the dating world,” the 27-year-old said in a now-viral TikTok video, adding, “I don't say this to suck up to women. I say this as a human being and as a real man, I do not condone that damn behavior at all.”
In the now-viral TikTok video, Dylan said, “You know what really shocked me when I got back into the dating world?”
“Every second woman I've met has been physically abused before. Every second woman I've met has been sexually assaulted before.
“And every second woman I've met has been on a date where they were expected to perform a sexual act, and that has resulted in aggression towards them.
'I had no idea this was going on. This is a failure of most men in the dating world.
“Some of the things I've been told men do and what men write are absolutely disgusting. Coming from a man, I am absolutely shocked by the behavior of some other men.
“I'm not saying this to suck up to women. I say this as a human being and as a real man: I don't condone that damn behavior at all.
“I think it's absolutely disgusting.”
“My message (to men) still remains the same: understand what is right and wrong, and respect boundaries,” he told FEMAIL
The emotional video has now been viewed more than 439,000 times and received hundreds of responses.
But while he's been flooded with support, he's also been bombarded with message requests from men who say he's “wrong.”
“I actually had to turn off my message requests on all platforms and put all my comments on filter,” he said.
“I have deleted numerous comments because I feel they could be triggers for my TikTok community.
“I understand that my video put me in a very vulnerable place, even walking around the city on a Saturday night. But it really is what I believe in and I have to put myself on the line.”
At one point he even considered deleting the video.
The positive reactions from others and his powerful message made it worth it.
“This year alone, 67 women have died as a result of domestic violence – thank you for standing up for your mother,” one person wrote.
'As a mother of two boys: thank you. Your mother raised you well,” said another.
'Mate, you are a rare treasure. Greetings,” a third added.
Someone else said: 'This is exactly what we need from our men. Stand up and have your say.'
“The more people are front and center as they grow or witness, the better this world will become,” wrote another.
Another added: “We need to advocate for each other. Well done, you can be proud.'
An estimated eight million Australians (41 percent) have experienced violence (physical and/or sexual) since the age of 15, the report said. Australian Bureau of Statistics.
From 2021 to 2022, one in four women (23 percent) experienced violence from an intimate partner, compared to one in fourteen men (7.3 percent).