Gen Z Males 3 Times More Likely Than Boomers to Prioritize 'Dominance'

Newsweek

24-07-2025

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Gen Z males were three times more likely to prioritize "dominance" than baby boomers in a new study by consumer insights platform GWI.
Males from the Gen Z population—ages 13 to 28—ranked as more traditional in several of their ratings. While 71 percent of male baby boomers said "caring" is a quality men should possess, just 43 percent of Gen Zers said the same. That was the lowest rating of any generation.
Why It Matters
Gen Z is navigating a largely unforeseen dating scene, growing up in a world where dating is often conducted by apps, and algorithms may decide the fate of who your partner is.
The rise of "manosphere" content creators like Andrew Tate has also preached the importance of being an "alpha male," while encouraging disrespect and even sometimes violence toward women in the process.
The shifting views on masculinity and dating could have long-standing ramifications, especially as many women are simultaneously frustrated over dating in the modern age.
An AppsFlyer survey from last year found a whopping 65 percent of dating apps get deleted within just a month. And of those who uninstall the apps, 90 percent do it within a week.
A 13-year-old boy looks at an iPhone screen on May 26 in Penzance, England.
A 13-year-old boy looks at an iPhone screen on May 26 in Penzance, England.What To Know
In the new GWI report, Gen Z males consistently showed a preference for what's largely seen as "traditional" gender roles, more so than their baby boomer elders.
While Gen Z males were nearly three times more likely than boomers to prioritize "dominance" as a key trait, at 23 percent versus 8 percent, they also valued strength more than older generations.
The priority of "strength" as a trait declined with age across the generations, as 52 percent of Gen Z males said it was the most valued trait.
That was compared to 51 percent of male millennials, 46 percent of Gen X and 44 percent for boomers.
"The biggest biological reason that baby boomer men are less likely to prioritize, dominance and strength, and more likely to prioritize caring, has to do with the fact that their testosterone has gone down," Dr. Wendy Walsh, relationship expert from DatingAdvice, told Newsweek. "Thank goodness! Men over 60 are the sweetest gentlest men. It's wonderful to see. Gen Z men might prioritize dominance partly because their testosterone is raging."
However, there are also social and psychological factors at play, Walsh added.
"Baby boomers are fathers and grandfathers. They've spent their days slaying dragons and now want to spend time nurturing the things that are very good for their health, their friends and family," Walsh said.
"As for those Gen Z men, many of them have lost their 'place' in society, as women are surging ahead in education and economics. Rather than understanding that masculinity can be correlated with caring and nurturing, they may be attempting to assert their masculinity through dominance in reaction to women's perceived strength."
Across the board, males had traditional views toward what women should act like, with the top three traits they think women should possess being "caring" (61 percent), "gentle" (52 percent) and "nurturing" (52 percent).
Females, meanwhile, valued confidence and independence as the top traits in women, at 68 percent and 63 percent.
And the traits females valued in men differed dramatically from what males valued in themselves, GWI found.
Across generations, the top qualities females valued in men were being caring (62 percent), confident (56 percent) and empathetic (55 percent).
While 57 percent of males also viewed confidence as the top quality for men, Gen Z males especially valued more traditional, tough traits in men.
"The data reveals an important shift in mindsets, and in some cases a reversal, in how different generations view gender roles," Chris Beer, data journalist at GWI, said in a statement.
"While many women are embracing confidence and independence, young men are being drawn toward traditional ideas of masculinity, placing a greater importance on strength and dominance compared to older generations.
What People Are Saying
Hallie Kritsas, licensed mental health counselor with Thriveworks, told Newsweek: "It may seem surprising to some that male Gen Z individuals are leaning into more traditional traits such as dominance and strength, and may be doing so even more than male Boomers. However, this reflects deeper uncertainty. We are in a world of shifting roles, and so many younger men are searching for identity and control. These young men are often doing so without strong models of healthy masculinity, which might lead them to fall back on 'outdated ideas.'"
Walsh also told Newsweek: "I think Gen Z men may want to see a return to traditional gender roles so that they can recapture some sense of "lost" male identity rather than evolve into the new masculine man, that is one who is caring, nurturing and emotionally attuned."
What Happens Next
The Gen Z males who prioritize dominance above all else might reflect their own insecurity and confusion, Kritsas said, adding, "As a result, we are seeing a generation of examples that are struggling to reconcile emotional vulnerability, such as being caring, gentle, and nurturing, with a culture that still rewards power."