cosnova study: Violence against young women

In mid-February, the German Bundesrat passed the Violence Assistance Act, which aims to establish a reliable support system for victims of gender-based and domestic violence. The need for political action is demonstrated not only by the Federal Criminal Police Office's (BKA) 2023 report on gender-specific attacks on women, which shows that crimes against women and girls are on the rise in all areas. The current Un_Safe Spaces Report by the cosmetics company cosnova, published to mark International Women’s Day on 8 March, also paints an alarming picture:

• 92% of women aged 18-35 have experienced gender-based harassment, violence or boundary violations in public places
• Almost two thirds of these women felt seriously threatened by these incidents on one or more occasions
• 82% of the women interviewed deliberately restrict their movements, avoid certain places, adapt the way they dress or take safety precautions for fear of (sexual) harassment

The “Un_Safe Spaces Report: Gender-Based Violence Experienced by Young Women in Germany” was commissioned as part of the cosnova says NO initiative. This initiative, a partnership between the German cosmetics company and the NGO Zonta International Germany, aims to create a society in which women can thrive without fear of violence. With this initiative, the company cosnova, whose brands include essence and Catrice, is working to raise awareness of gender-based abuse as a social issue and to educate its core target group – women up to the age of 35 – about the issue. In January this year, 1,500 women aged between 18 and 35 were interviewed by the social research institute forsa about their experiences of violence.

The motto of International Women’s Day 2025 on 8 March is: “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” In this context, the findings presented in the report make it very clear that even for the young generation of women in Germany today, this goal is far from being achieved. Almost every woman up to the age of 35 has been assaulted or violated in public because of her gender. This is despite the fact that personal safety – including in public spaces – is a basic prerequisite for equal private and professional development, regardless of gender.

One in two Gen Z women experience physical assault or harassment

The Un_Safe Spaces Report highlights the forms of gender-based abuse experienced by women aged 18-35 in public places. Most shockingly, 55% of the women interviewed stated that they had been touched, groped or kissed against their will on one or more occasions. One in three had been followed, (sexually) harassed or threatened. 10% suspect that they have been given date rape drugs, while a further 4% are certain that their drinks have been spiked with date rape drugs at some point.

In addition to physical violence, young women are also subjected to verbal and image-based abuse:

• 72% have experienced catcalling (sexually suggestive shouting, talking, whistling or gestures)
• 63% reported unwanted advances or pressure to go on dates
• 49% have received unwanted sexual propositions
• 40% have been exposed to naked pictures or pornographic content without being asked
• 17% have had someone expose themselves to them

“Looking at the data from the study, we can see that harassment, assault and boundary violations in public places are part of everyday life for women in our country. This is unacceptable. We must hold perpetrators accountable, invest in prevention and promote healthy masculinity. We urge politicians and institutions to act with the urgency that this issue deserves,” says Susanne von Bassewitz of Zonta International Germany, which works to improve the legal, political, economic and professional situation of women worldwide.

Perpetrators often go unpunished, women limit themselves

61% of women have simply ignored at least some of the gender-based abuse or boundary violations. The three most common reasons for this are not knowing how to respond, believing that a response will not help, or assuming that what happened was not serious enough.

Only about a quarter of the women dared to confront their perpetrator directly in one or more of the situations. Only eight out of 100 victims reported the incident to the police. Only two out of 100 women stated that perpetrators faced legal repercussions.

So, while perpetrators usually face no consequences, women adjust their behaviour in public for fear of harassment:

• 69% avoid empty places such as car parks, public transport stations, underpasses, etc. in the evening or at night.
• 52% are on constant alert when walking alone after dark. They keep their mobile phone within reach, hold their keys in case they need to defend themselves or pretend to be on the phone.
• 45% only take part in certain activities if they are in the company of others. This includes going to local festivals, bars, clubs or swimming pools.
• 34% deliberately avoid wearing skirts, dresses or low-cut clothing in public in certain situations

 “The results of the study drastically illustrate that violence against women in all its forms is not recognised in politics and society for what it is: an everyday form of harassment and a threat for half the population,” says Ulrich Warncke, prevention officer of the White Ring in Hesse and lawyer for victims. The figures clearly show that politicians lack the necessary seriousness and consistency to counteract this effectively. Women are still forced to protect themselves – whether it’s by avoiding certain places or walking home in groups. That this is still a reality in 2025 is not only shameful for a modern, enlightened society, but also an indication of the poor performance of political decision-makers.

Women feel left alone with this issue

The study shows not only the extent to which women in Germany are affected by gender-based abuse, but also how young women view the social perception of this issue.

• 83% say that victims of (sexual) harassment are usually given some of the blame
• 74% believe that violence against women is not taken seriously enough in Germany
• 66% feel that the issue is not discussed enough in politics, the media and on social media
• 28% feel that they are not sufficiently informed and educated about violence against women

These figures show that women not only experience violence but also feel a lack of support from society.

“At cosnova, we have been committed to a specific mission for over 20 years: Make everyone feel more beautiful. But before we can feel beautiful, basic human needs such as safety and physical integrity must be met. Gender-specific violence is a social problem. Almost every woman in Germany experiences boundary violations and assaults because of her gender. For us as a company with 78% female employees and a young female target group, this is unacceptable,” says Astrid Haury, Senior Manager Corporate Responsibility at cosnova. “That's why we're using our high-reach channels and brands to raise awareness and educate people, while calling for more protection and a clear stance from politicians, institutions, the media and each of us as individuals.”

About the “Un_Safe Spaces Report: Gender-Based Violence Experienced by Young Women in Germany” 

On behalf of cosnova Beauty, forsa Gesellschaft für Sozialforschung und statistische Analysen mbH conducted a representative study on the topic of “Gender-Based Violence Experienced by Young Women”. Interviews were conducted with 2,024 women aged between 18 and 65, including 1,501 women aged between 18 and 35. The age group was selected on the basis of the core target group of the company’s brands essence and Catrice, which cosnova wanted to highlight within the framework of the survey. The interviews were conducted via the representative online panel forsa.omninet from 6 to 15 January 2025. In addition to the topic of “experiences of violence in public”, the study also examined gender-specific boundary violations in social media and the prevalence and handling of domestic violence among young women.

ABOUT THE COSNOVA GROUP

cosnova Beauty has its headquarters in Germany and distributes its colour cosmetics brands essence and Catrice in around 90 countries worldwide. In 2024, the family-owned business achieved net sales of 954 million euros. cosnova is the 6th largest company for “Decorative Cosmetics” in the world and the 2nd largest by unit sales. Besides its beauty business, the cosnova Group also invests in a variety of companies and assets, some to utilise synergies in the beauty segment and others as stand-alone investments. cosnova has grown substantially since it was founded more than 20 years ago. Around 900 employees at various locations around the world are committed to the company’s success story.