Feminism does more harm than good, young men say. Being a man is hard, they say. Seniors think more progressively, research shows
Equality that doesn't fit the bill?
It's actually quite paradoxical. Research to date has clearly shown that older men, in particular, tend to be more conservative and refuse to accept that the world has changed in their lifetime. This is also proven, by the way, by research that maps the degree of acceptance of different sexual orientations, acceptance of same-sex marriage, etc. They show that it is older men who are the most rejecting. One might therefore expect that the generation of men over 45 will also be the ones who are most opposed to equal rights for women and men (although the very question of whether equality should be achieved at all may seem absurd nowadays). But - the mistake of the bridge. A new study from the UK has revealed that even older men have more progressive views on gender equality than Generation Z men...
There could certainly be quite a debate about how hard it is to be a woman/man. But the fact is that there is countless evidence that women are still discriminated against in the labour market, for example - they are paid less than men, find it harder to climb the career ladder, with one of the key reasons being career interruption due to motherhood (and a number of associated stereotypes). To what extent this negatively affects men is a really big question (ahem), but the truth is that one in four Britons aged 16 to 29 actually believe it is harder to be a man than a woman.
What's more, the research also shows that many men who are generational millennials feel the same way. In addition, opinions on the concept of toxic masculinity also differ by gender - while women see it as a pressing issue that needs attention, men think it is not a big deal.
Concern for the old order
Certainly, at a time when systematic efforts to achieve equal opportunities and overall gender equality are being promoted, it is actually not surprising that men are beginning to feel threatened. They are afraid for their careers, which have so far been "insured" de facto by being men (this is a claim that many people would like to argue, but just look at the representation of women in leadership positions, the - socially and financially undervalued - professions that are also dominated by women, etc.). They fear for their position in society, but also in their families. It is no coincidence that around 20% of Generation Z men also think that it will be much harder to be a man in the next 20 years (by comparison, only 9% of men over 60 hold the same view).
Zdroj: Giphy
"This is a new and unusual generational pattern - it is usually the case that younger generations are closer to the emerging social norms because they have grown up with them and they are a natural part of their lives," commented Bobby Duffy, Director of the Policy Institute at King's College London, where the research was conducted. He also added that as the number of men who reject feminism grows, so does the popularity of misogyny, as this is a way for men who feel marginalised to assert their views. This is ultimately evidenced by the growing popularity of influencers who base their content on hatred of women. There are even those who teach other men how to essentially abuse women (if we were to be specific, the aforementioned research directly works with the name Andrew Tate, who makes a living online instructingyoung boys on how to harass women and get them to sleep with them - in Romania, this influencer is already facing charges of human trafficking and rape).
Experts also warn of the growing influence of such influencers. This is because Generation Z is very divided in terms of gender. Young men feel that they are facing challenges that no one understands, so they turn to those who spread opinions to the point of extremism. "More effort needs to be made in understanding today's young men, otherwise they risk filling their void with influencers and celebrities who will exacerbate this social divide," Duffy also added.
Is this a "phase"?
It would be quite easy to wave our hands at the British research as some kind of "deviation from the norm" that will pass again. But this "unusual generational pattern" is beginning to manifest itself across the world. In America, too, up to half of young men believe they face some form of discrimination. And data collected by the Gallup analytics company shows that men around the world are more conservative, while women are more progressive. Perhaps it's the threat to male positions, the dissolution of the boundaries between what is perceived as "feminine" and "masculine," and the general sense that the world that used to be is disappearing. But as it turns out, looking to generations of young people as the hope for progressive change, or those who will be at the forefront of it, may prove to be a big mistake over time.
