Whoa, Gen Z Guys, Are You Okay?

"In a survey of 23,000 people from 29 countries, more than half the participants—52 percent—agree that 'when it comes to giving women equal rights with men, things have gone far enough in my country.' According to the recent survey out of King's College London, the number of those who agree with that sentiment has increased by 10 percent in just seven years."

"The data is heavily impacted by Gen Z males, 61 percent of whom agree. Thirty-one percent of Gen Z men agree that a wife should always obey her husband. Twenty-one percent of those same guys believe that a real woman should never initiate sex. This shows a trend that's consistent across the study."

"When compared to older generations—even against Boomers, whose anti-woke opinions make them young leftists' favorite punching bag—younger generations are returning to more traditional beliefs about women's roles. When asked whether it's an issue if a woman earns more than her husband, Gen Z is the only generation where more men than women find this concerning."

A King's College London survey of 23,000 people across 29 countries found that over half agree gender equality efforts have progressed sufficiently. Support for this view increased by 10 percent over seven years. In the United States, agreement rose from 33 percent in 2019 to 40 percent in 2026. Gen Z males show the strongest support for traditional gender roles, with 61 percent agreeing that progress has gone far enough. Thirty-one percent of Gen Z men believe wives should obey husbands, and 21 percent think women should never initiate sex. Notably, this generational trend contradicts older generations, including Baby Boomers. While respondents across genders support female leadership and find employed women attractive, Gen Z men uniquely express concern when women earn more than their husbands, distinguishing them from older male cohorts.

Read at Esquire