When it comes to dating, Joan Ruby, of Perrysburg, knows what she prefers.

“I’m old school,” she said. “I like to be pursued.”

But Ms. Ruby, who describes herself as “over 60” and who has been on and off the dating scene for years, has recently noticed a shift in the way that singles mingle. Whereas once she could have counted on a gentleman to make a first move – to introduce himself, to invite her on a date – she’s now being nudged into a more assertive role.

“You have to be a little bit more aggressive nowadays than you used to,” she said. “[Men are] a little more apprehensive to come onto you as a woman, because they don’t want you to get the wrong impression.”

Is it a limited observation or part of a broader shift in dating norms on the heels of a national reckoning on sexual harassment and assault?

Since the #MeToo movement took off in October 2017 with the revelation of decades-long abuse in the film industry by producer Harvey Weinstein, a series of high-profile sexual assault allegations have rocked the country. From Hollywood to Washington D.C., revelations borne of the movement have stripped prominent actors, legislators and journalists of long-held respect and prompted nationwide discussions on the nuances of power, consent and coercion.

But it might be too early to say whether – or how – these conversations play out in the way that singles approach and interact with each other, experts said. As Professor Shara Crookston of the University of Toledo points out, it can be more difficult to look at personal relationships through the lens of #MeToo than it is the largely professional ones that have made headlines.

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First Published June 25, 2018, 11:33 a.m.