Chapter 1: Why are young men becoming more misogynistic in today's society?
Why are young men becoming more and more misogynistic? Thanks for asking. We might like to think of our Western countries as progressive and take pride in how our societies have evolved in recent decades to become more inclusive in many ways, including equality between men and women. The 2010s saw movements like MeToo encourage women to make their voices heard.
You could be forgiven for assuming that attitudes have shifted and that misogyny is thankfully on the decline, but the evidence suggests that the opposite is actually happening.
A study carried out by Ipsos and the Global Institute for Women's Leadership at King's College London was published in March 2026, coinciding with International Women's Day celebrations, and it suggested that men from Generation Z are actually more misogynistic than older generations.
Chapter 2: What evidence shows that Gen Z men are more misogynistic than older generations?
What's the evidence behind that conclusion then? The survey gathered responses from 23,000 people across 29 countries, including the UK and the US, as well as countries in Europe, Asia and Latin America. The findings were quite clear.
Men from Generation Z, so those born between 1997 and 2012, are actually far more likely to agree with traditional ideas about gender roles than baby boomers born between 1945 and 1965. Let's look at a specific example. On a global scale, 31% of Gen Z men believe that a woman should obey her husband, compared to just 13% of baby boomers.
Chapter 3: How do traditional gender roles affect the views of Gen Z men?
Around a third also think the husband should have the final say in important decisions. Nearly a quarter say that a woman should not appear too independent or self-sufficient, a figure which is double the equivalent rate among baby boomers. Even when it comes to intimacy, younger men appear more conservative.
21% believe that a so-called real woman should never take the initiative in a sexual relationship, compared to just 7% among older generations.
Chapter 4: What societal factors contribute to the rise of misogyny among young men?
And these attitudes are not only directed at women. The study also shows that Gen Z men hold more traditional expectations for themselves. 30% think a man shouldn't tell his friends that he loves them, while 21% believe that a man who takes on childcare responsibilities is less masculine than one who doesn't. How on earth can these kinds of attitudes still be prevalent in 2026?
Professor Heejung Chung is the director of the Global Institute for Women's Leadership at King's College London, and she feels this hostility among some young men may stem from a fear of losing their place in society. Speaking to the BBC about her institute's study,
Chapter 5: What does the future hold for the fight against misogynistic attitudes?
She suggested that Gen Z men feel ignored by politicians, and some of them resent not having the same opportunities as the older generations, such as struggling to get onto the housing ladder. There's a growing sense of grievance and anxiety about losing social influence,
Into that gap step voices and narratives that set young men against gender equality, against young women, and against migrants. For a young man, not being able to assert their identity through a provider role may create a sense of loss and leave fewer positive, diverse models of masculinity to draw on.
In short, despite real progress in many areas, the fight against misogynistic attitudes is far from over. There you have it. Now you know why young men are becoming more and more misogynistic.
In under three minutes, we answer your questions and help you understand the true meaning behind the trends, concepts and acronyms that are making headlines. Listen along and you will really know for sure.