However, data collected between 2024 and 2026 is challenging this narrative. Recent research suggests that while Gen Z remains progressive in many areas, young men in this generation are showing increasingly conservative views on gender roles. Experts have described this contradiction as the “Progressive Paradox.”
What the research shows
The findings come from annual research conducted by Ipsos and the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King’s College London. The study surveyed 23,000 people across multiple countries and compared attitudes between different generations.
The results highlight a significant divide between younger and older men when it comes to views on gender equality.
Decision-making in relationships
According to the research, around 33 percent of Gen Z men believe that a husband should have the final say in important household decisions.
Similarly, 30 percent say that a wife should be subservient to her husband.
By comparison, only 13 percent of Baby Boomer men agree with these views.
Women’s financial independence
The study also found that 24 percent of Gen Z men believe women should not be financially independent or self-sufficient.
Among older generations, only 12 percent share this opinion.
Attitudes toward sexual norms
When it comes to intimacy and relationships, 21 percent of Gen Z men think women should not initiate intimacy.
In contrast, only 7 percent of men from the oldest generation surveyed hold the same belief.
Equality fatigue
The research also points to a phenomenon sometimes called “equality fatigue.”
Around 59 percent of Gen Z men believe the expectations placed on men to support gender equality have become excessive. Among Baby Boomers, the figure is 45 percent.
There is also a growing global sentiment that women may have already achieved sufficient equality. In 2019, about 42 percent of people believed women had gone too far in achieving equality. That number has now increased to 52 percent.
According to Heejung Chung, director of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership and the lead researcher, many young men feel a growing sense of insecurity about their social position.
She says there are fears among some young men about losing status, and this environment is being filled by rhetoric that pits young men against gender equality, young women, and migrants.
Redefining masculinity
The study also suggests that many Gen Z men feel constrained by traditional expectations of masculinity.
Around 30 percent say they avoid expressing their feelings to friends.
About 21 percent believe that men who take on childcare responsibilities may be seen as less masculine.
Among Baby Boomers, only 8 percent share this view.
Why the shift may be happening
Experts say several economic and social factors are driving this change.
Gen Z is entering adulthood during a period marked by rising living costs, job insecurity, and limited economic opportunities. In previous generations, men often demonstrated masculinity through their role as the primary breadwinner.
Today, achieving that status is much more difficult, which may contribute to an identity crisis among some young men.
Another factor is what researchers call a “zero-sum mindset.” This perspective assumes that gains for women automatically mean losses for men, which can intensify resistance to gender equality.
A complex reality
The research suggests that Gen Z cannot simply be labeled as either progressive or conservative. Instead, the generation reflects a complex mix of evolving social attitudes.
While many young people remain strong advocates for social justice and equality, the rise of more traditional views among some Gen Z men highlights the contradictions shaping this generation’s political and cultural outlook.
