Gen Z Women And Teenage Girls Are Exposing The Harsh Truth About How Today's Gen Z Boys Are Acting, And It's Honestly Eye-Opening

Yahoo

24-02-2025

In the latest election, young men diverged from their voting pattern in 2020 and leaned right. But their politics and values aren't traditionally conservative; instead, they're drawn by far-right "macho" symbolism and misogynist influencers like Andrew Tate.
I was curious to know what kind of environment this has created for young women and girls; so, I decided to ask teen girls and Gen Z women to tell me the realities of how boys/men their age are acting in today's culture.
Some answers are more overtly political, while others critique how men are acting socially and romantically. Without further ado, here are their answers:
1."I've seen boys making the most truly disgusting comments and 'jokes' about women's bodies or horrible tragedies. They seem to have zero awareness of the fact that other people will hear them."
Pop TV / CBC Television
"I spent a whole semester in art class unwillingly listening to boys describing, in truly graphic detail, what they like most about the bodies of their friends' mothers. Ew.
I realize some girls at school can do similar things, but talking about who's a good kisser in whispered tones is far preferable to hear than some boy loudly interrupting class to make some vile joke about mass shootings. And, to be clear, this is EVERY boy in my grade. Regardless of race, class, or clique, they do this. I am so sick of it, especially since our school is adamantly ignoring it. I just hope it'll get better, and these kids won't become the over-popular conservative comedians of the future."
— gingerlidsky
2."I'm a middle school girl, and lots of the boys walk around telling girls, 'Your body, my choice.'"
"Once, a small group of them even pushed my friend while they said it. I've seen online that this was happening all over the country, but at least where I am, there is only one teacher who cares. A lot of the parents even think it's cute/funny/flirty behavior. But it scares me."
—Anonymous
3."High schooler here. While I will say a lot of the guys in my generation can be horrible people, I think the majority of their behavior is learned from their paternal figure."
"A lot of people say that men need a father figure, but I don't think that's necessarily true because I think it will just continue the cycle of toxic masculinity.
My current boyfriend's dad is not in the picture, and he is the most respectful, kind, compassionate guy you could meet. His mom has put a lot of effort into raising him to be respectful to women, and it really really shows. He is a super emotionally intelligent person and is amazing at communication, unlike a lot of guys his age.
I think since many guys in past generations were not raised to be emotionally intelligent and respectful, when they have sons they just continue the toxic cycle, and it shows. However, I think the guys in my generation still have hope because the majority of them, outside of relationships, are actually pretty good people."
— bougieship63
4."Almost-high-schooler here. Boys here really talk openly about inappropriate topics."
"Yesterday, they were all laughing and talking about each other's skin colors. Uh, hello? Our principal is Black, too. They also freely talk about the r-word (rape) and how they want to do it to each other."
— vibrantbunny81
5."At least where I am, I honestly feel like there's no in-between with how they act. Most of them are kind and respectful, and there are a few who are downright awful people. I think the dark humor aspect of social media is causing some of it, and they are quick to be jerks to people who are 'different.'"
"One of my friends has autism and is bullied; someone who harasses her followed her home and might have posted it on TikTok because he thought her reaction was funny.
Another one of my friends keeps having someone from her church bother her to date him, because he knows she won't make a scene there.
Also, someone did a Nazi salute in front of a Jewish kid, and someone else hit his girlfriend in the face and when she punched back, SHE got in trouble.
The worst part is, these people won't take responsibility for how they act because it's 'just a joke...'"
— savoryorc15
6."I've been watching my 16-year-old brother fall down the misogynist social media pipeline. It's been so sad to watch him go from my sweet little brother to a hateful guy who is stuck in his room all the time."
"My parents are normal people who lean conservative but they refuse to see that he has a problem. He has told me at the dinner table that me and my mom shouldn't be allowed to vote.
We go to the same high school and the last straw happened when he threatened to rape my best friend. I don't speak to him at school or at home now.
My parents want me to 'grow up and forgive him' but I do not trust him anymore. He's the one who has to grow up and apologize to me."
—Anonymous
7."Been seeing this guy lately. He's genuinely very amazing. The very major problem I have with him and many men in this generation is they are SO scared to put labels on things."
"They will be so romantic, plan amazing dates, talk about marriage, but the moment I ask about going exclusive, oh my gosh, they act like the world is going to end. They will make up every excuse not to go exclusive even though they will do everything people do in a relationship. Honestly, I believe that some of these men think that dating is more serious than marriage. Wild."
— radianttrash962
8."The 'men' my age are so entitled. They think they have the right to a woman's body and then treat them like dirt."
"They also don't stop hitting on you when you reject them. Boyfriend? Oh no, he doesn't need to know. Lesbian? Yeah, but you haven't been with me."
— surpriseddog193
9."One time I was talking to a man and we had been on a couple of dates, and I'd thought things were going well. On New Year's Day, I woke up to a Snapchat from him of a girl laying in his bed."
"When I asked him about it, he told me, 'She was the one that got away, and I had the chance, but thought you should know.' The actual audacity of this man surprises me to this day."
— casualvolcano404
10."I'm a sophomore in high school right now, and honestly the audacity of these boys scares me so much."
"If you're wearing anything SLIGHTLY revealing, they totally stare you down and have no shame looking at your body.
There are a ton of MAGA misogynistic boys; one of them is my ex, and he keeps following me and finding me everywhere. It's honestly scary."
—Anonymous
11."I'm in a red-leaning state with a Republican family in a very traditional town. The things I see and hear some of the boys at my school say and do are deplorable."
"The f-slur has become a daily word in boy-to-boy conversation, and most of the time, we have to deal with boys getting into trouble, fights, and the like.
Just today, in my second period, two boys started screaming at each other and threw a chair at the teacher. This is common, and the school doesn't do much about it. They're enabling the behavior due to the boys' parents being big funding contributors to the school. Someone has to humble these men because I'm getting scared to go to school nowadays."
—Anonymous
12."I'm a teen and honestly most guys just try too hard. Most of the time, they act stupid and mean just to make themselves seem cool, especially when their friends are around."
"Like there's this one guy in my class who will purposely interrupt the teacher to get a couple of laughs, and then pretend that he doesn't know what he's doing when I know he aces most of his tests. It isn't attractive, and it isn't cool. Acting immature might get you a couple of laughs, but if you're trying to impress people (specifically girls), then maybe quit it with the brain rot and try to have a normal conversation."
—Anonymous
13."I feel like guys think since the president got away with treating women badly, they can do it too. I've had multiple experiences, including being grabbed and talked to meanly."
—Anonymous
14."I'm a college student in the United States, and the main trend I've noticed is a lack of awareness. A lot of boys don't seem to realize that their behavior can be really scary for a girl just trying to look out for her safety."
"If you get up in my personal space (even just for a moment, like to reach around me or something), that's scary. If you insist on walking with me when I haven't invited you to do so, that's scary! If you feel offended when I set boundaries or SAY certain things make me uncomfortable, that too, is SCARY!
I applaud anyone who is trying to be friendly or make connections with other people, but you have to understand that for every one of these 'friendly' actions, there is a scenario in which that action is not friendly, but dangerous.
A guy wanting to walk with you could be someone just looking to make a friend, or it could be someone trying to figure out where you live. A man giving a compliment could be trying to build me up, or he could be objectifying/sexualizing me in a way I didn't ask for and don't approve of."
"Even just being friendly back to a random dude can be dangerous."
"I am a girl who loves to make friends, and in an ideal world, I would go around smiling and making conversation with everyone! But if I do that, there are inevitably men who think I am flirting with or interested in them, which is not the case. Then when I clarify that, I am faced with anything from annoyance or disappointment to anger, insults, and even violence.
Please listen to the women around you, and make an honest effort to be polite and understand what your actions look like from a female perspective. And correct the men around you, too!"
—Anonymous
15."High school junior here. During the 'your body, my choice' phase boys were going through, I hit a guy in the face for saying that to me. It was in the hallway on camera, and I got a two-day suspension. He got nothing. Worth it though."
—Anonymous
16."I'm in seventh grade, mind you, and these boys are sooooo inappropriate. They joke about sucking Ds, often say penis just because they can, and stick their fingers up each others' butts."
—Anonymous
17."I wear a uniform for school and have to wear shorts under my skirt, or the boys in my school will be inappropriate."
—Anonymous
18.And finally: "I'm 29 and have two brother-in-laws who are also 29. Everyone treats both of them like they are children who need their bills paid and have an excuse for all their shortcomings."
"One of them lives in their mom's basement with no rent/utilities/grocery money due, and the other has three roommates because his part-time job doesn't pay enough for his own place. Neither have ever lived alone or been financially independent. Neither have any desire to change their current situation.
It's petty, but my favorite thing to do when one of their parents starts to make excuses about why life is so hard for their baby boy is to remind them I'm the same age and couldn't imagine needing my parents to fix a situation for me. On the other hand, I have lived on my own before getting married to my wife, and have been financially independent since graduating college."
—Anonymous
Leave your thoughts in the comments below. If you're a girl or woman who wants to share her own story, feel free to do so! Or, if you prefer to remain anonymous, you can check out this anonymous Google form! Who knows — your answer may be included in an upcoming BuzzFeed article.