Is Feminism Losing With Young Men? Large Majority Say Men Should Be on Top

Newsweek

a day ago

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Young men are rejecting the ideals of feminism, according to a new report from the Movember Institute of Men's Health.
In a survey of more than 3,000 men aged 16 to 25, the vast majority held beliefs centered around traditional gender roles.
Roughly 77 percent said men should hold leadership positions, and 83 percent agreed that men should be providers, sparking questions about how men and women will continue to build relationships with each other in the modern age.
Why It Matters
While traditional gender roles have been the standard for years, more women are outpacing men when it comes to higher education, and economic necessity is no longer driving marriages.
In 1995, young men and women were equally likely to hold a bachelor's degree at 25 percent each, according to Pew Research. As of last year, however, 47 percent of U.S. women ages 25 to 34 have a bachelor's degree, while only 37 percent of men did.
These shifting dynamics have raised questions about the roles of men and women in the workforce, as well as in their homes and relationships, but young men appear to be holding onto traditional values despite falling behind economically.
A 14-year-old boy looks at a iPhone screen on May 26, 2025 in Penzance, England.
A 14-year-old boy looks at a iPhone screen on May 26, 2025 in Penzance, England.What To Know
The majority of young men believe men should be the ones in leadership positions and acting as providers, but they also have concerns over men displaying emotions.
Roughly 77 percent in the survey said men who can't control their emotions are a threat to others, and 61 percent believed men should solve problems alone.
However, all of these beliefs were much more common among young men who follow male influencers than among non-followers.
The relationship between young men and feminism has shifted notably in recent years, with evidence suggesting increasing skepticism and ambivalence among Gen Z males.
Researchers and educators have observed a pronounced gender divide on issues of equality and identity, reflecting broader social trends and political polarization. Surveys indicate that fewer young men today identify as feminists compared to young women and previous generations of men.
Underlying this divide are perceptions that the advancements of feminism have not resolved, or may even have exacerbated, the challenges faced by boys and young men.
Roughly 60 percent of all young men in the U.S. engage with mainstream masculinity influencers and content, which potentially leads to warped ideas of men and women and their own roles when it comes to masculinity.
The "manosphere" notably includes social media influencers who often promote anti-feminist and misogynistic rhetoric. These communities can draw in young men who feel alienated or marginalized, providing them with a sense of identity and validation for grievances centered around romantic rejection, economic difficulty, and social isolation.
Social media algorithms have amplified the reach of these spaces, making exposure to extreme ideological content more frequent and forming a part of young men's digital environments.
Other polling from the Survey Center on American Life shows just 43 percent of Gen Z men identify as feminists compared to 61 percent of Gen Z women. This divide is compounded by the fact that nearly half of Gen Z men now say they face discrimination for being male, up significantly from previous years.
In the Movember survey, young men, many of whom followed these types of male influencers, had high rates of worthlessness (26 percent), nervousness (27 percent) and sadness (27 percent).
They were also likely to have negative views toward women, with 70 percent saying women "have it easier" than men and roughly 50 percent saying feminism is used to "keep men down."
Repeating a typical manosphere influencer rhetoric, 31 percent of young men in the U.S. said, "High-value men get more matches."
"This is a wake-up call," said Dr. Zac Seidler, Global Director of Men's Health Research at Movember, in the report. "We can't ignore the role online content plays in shaping how young men see themselves, others, and the world. They deserve to be part of the solution—not just the subject of the debate."
What People Are Saying
Brian Heilman, Senior Research Fellow at Movember, said in the report: "Young men are telling us they want clear, approachable conversations about what it means to be a man today. We need to have the courage to meet them where they are, engage in those conversations, and help them build healthy and sociable aspirations for their lives."
Hallie Kritsas, a licensed mental health counselor with Thriveworks, told Newsweek: "Young men are rejecting feminism because of confusion, fear, and how they may feel threatened due to cultural implications if women want partnership versus something like patriarchy. Further, men are told both explicitly and subtly that being vulnerable or feminine makes them weak or less masculine. This can all lead to things like anxiety, depression, and relationship issues."
What Happens Next
The polarization around feminism and the growing influence of online anti-feminist circles have had tangible effects on relationships, political alignment, and discourse within schools and universities.
"If men continue to reject this equality, we can assume that there will be more division," Kritsas said. "The hope is that men continue to lean into things like therapy and emotionally balanced relationships. And that we can normalize emotional depth and equality within relationships."