Study finds Gen Z Divided on Gender Equality

Gen Z is more divided on gender equality and women’s rights than any other generation, a global study has found.

A survey of nearly 24,000 people in 30 countries found Gen Z is the most likely to perceive tensions between genders.

The study was carried out by Ipsos UK and the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King’s College London (KCL) to mark International Women’s Day.

It also revealed stark differences between Gen Z men and women on feminism and gender equality.

More than half (53%) of Gen Z women identify as feminists, compared to 32% of Gen Z men—the widest gap of any generation surveyed.

Among Britons of all ages, 38% now call themselves feminists, down from 43% in 2024.

The decline is sharper among men, dropping 10 percentage points in the past year.

Kelly Beaver, chief executive of pollster Ipsos, said the “battle of the sexes” has “emerged as a salient force within Gen Z”.

She said: “These divisive sentiments are coupled with less optimism for the future of today’s young men, compared to that of young women.

“We must find ways to bridge this divide and ensure that progress towards gender equality benefits everyone, without leaving anyone behind.”

The study found 57% of Gen Z men believe efforts to promote women’s equality have gone too far, compared to 36% of Gen Z women.

Among all British adults, 40% think the push for gender equality now discriminates against men. This view is held by 51% of British men and 33% of British women.

Attitudes towards traditional gender roles also vary. More than a quarter (26%) of Gen Z men believe a stay-at-home father is ‘less of a man’, compared to 19% of Gen Z women.

Despite these divisions, Gen Z largely agrees that gender tensions exist.

Across all countries surveyed, 60% of Gen Z said there is tension between men and women, with 55% of men and 62% of women agreeing.

In Britain, 40% see gender tensions—similar to levels in Germany and France—while the figure rises to 58% in the US and 76% in South Korea.

Yet most people in all 30 countries surveyed still support gender equality. Two-thirds, including 62% of men, say achieving gender equality matters to them personally.

Professor Heejung Chung, director of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at KCL, warned against framing the debate as a “zero-sum game” that pits men against women.

She said: “Many problems we face are shared, and all genders can and should come together to address the challenges we face as a society, as only by uniting our efforts can we meet them.”