Some men from Generation Z are embracing strikingly traditional views on relationships, according to a new report cited by the New York Post. A growing number believe that wives should obey their husbands and defer to them when it comes to major decisions.
The findings come from a global survey conducted by Ipsos in partnership with the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King’s Business School in London. The study found that 31% of Gen Z men agree that a wife should always obey her husband, while 33% believe the final say in a family should belong to the man.
The survey included nearly 23,000 participants across 29 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil and India. Researchers compared attitudes across generations – from baby boomers and Generation X to millennials and Gen Z – to see how perceptions of gender roles are evolving.
Interestingly, people over the age of 30 were more likely to reject such views, describing them as outdated. Younger men between 18 and 29, however, were more likely to express conservative attitudes toward relationship dynamics and the division of roles within a household.
Researchers partly link this shift to the rise of so-called “red pill” culture – online communities that push back against feminist ideas and promote traditional concepts of male dominance.
The survey also revealed other notable attitudes among young men. For example, 21% of Gen Z men believe that a “real woman” should not take the first step in intimate relationships. Among women of the same generation, only 12% agreed.
At the same time, the results highlight some contradictions. While many young men favor traditional expectations about women’s roles, 41% said women with successful careers are more attractive to men.
According to Ipsos CEO Kelly Beaver, the findings reflect a complex mix of modern and traditional attitudes, opening the door to an important discussion about how gender norms are shifting in society.
The survey also exposed strict expectations young men place on themselves. Thirty percent believe men shouldn’t tell their male friends “I love you,” while 43% say young men should appear physically strong, even if that doesn’t reflect who they truly are.
In addition, 21% of Gen Z men said that men who take an active role in childcare are less masculine. Only 14% of women from the same generation agreed with that view.
Researchers note, however, that most people around the world still support the idea of gender equality, especially within families. Many respondents admitted that social expectations and cultural norms often push people toward more traditional roles.
Photo: Srdjan
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