I research women’s role in media–and yet I recently discovered that my Gen Z son and his peers didn’t support feminism.
I research women’s role in media–and yet I recently discovered that my Gen Z son and his peers didn’t support feminism Fortune
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The Emerging Gender Divide in Gen Z: A Report on the Impact of Feminism, Masculinity, and Gender Equality
Recently, in the same week, a study from King’s College London and a Financial Times analysis of various studies exposed an unprecedented gender rift emerging within Gen Z. As a mother of two Gen Z boys who researches the role of women in media, I felt enormous sorrow and a sense of loss. If our youngest generation of women and men are diverging in their fundamental values and are polarized on important matters such as the impact of feminism, masculinity, and gender equality, how are they to build healthy, loving, long-lasting relationships in a world starved of unity and social cohesion?
Understanding the Gender Divide in Gen Z
Troubled with these thoughts, I came down to the kitchen on a Saturday morning to check in on my 13-year-old son and his two friends who had stayed overnight. “What do you think of feminism?” I asked spontaneously, curious to hear their thoughts over breakfast before they headed off to football. My son rebutted my question with vehemence, demanding that I not ask such “weird” questions. His negative reaction and visible discomfort puzzled me.
In the past, societal rifts have been observed between different generations, but according to the FT’s analyses, this century, for the first time, a real ideological gap has emerged and developed within the same generation of young men and women. Since 2000, 18-29-year-old women in South Korea, the U.S., Germany, and the U.K. have become significantly more progressive while young men have grown more conservative.
King’s College London’s study, a snapshot of present-day cross-generational opinions in the U.K., revealed that 16-29-year-old men were more likely than any other group (including men over 60) to think that being a man is harder than being a woman. They are four times more likely to think this than young women (26% vs. 6%). What’s more, almost one in five men in the 16-29 age group believe that attempts to give equal opportunities to women have gone too far or much too far (18% vs. 8% for young women and 12% of all adults).
Factors Contributing to the Gender Divide
Different social scientists and journalists attribute these divisions in the youngest generation to a variety of factors. Among them are:
- The #MeToo movement giving rise to feminist values in young women.
- The identity crisis that men have been experiencing in the face of women’s increasing emancipation.
- Young men and women’s dramatically different use of social media that has led to diametrically opposing online worlds.
- The economic struggles that are pushing men towards more conservative and anti-immigration beliefs.
- Men’s higher consumption of online hard-core porn which has deepened their objectification of women and increased the appeal of sexist influencers who advocate for traditional female roles (such as Jordan Peterson) and the subjugation of women (such as Andrew Tate).
Perhaps slightly self-serving, I decided to persevere with the question I had posed my son and his friends. The responses surprised me: I found out that my son, who has been raised in a feminist household, didn’t consider himself a feminist because he thought it was unfair to fight for women’s but not men’s rights. He was neutral, he said. Interestingly, his friends too thought that feminism was about giving better opportunities to women but not to men.
Redefining Feminism for Unity and Equality
As disappointing as this conversation was for me as a media gender equity expert, it was incredibly insightful. I realized that the next generation of boys, yet to be surveyed by the likes of King’s College London, is anchored in the zero-sum narrative: “For women to feel better, men have to feel worse” or conversely “women are suffering, because all men are sexists.” One of the problems of many feminist and anti-feminist narratives is that they pit women against men. For instance, articles calling teenage boys and young men “annoying” do not help the feminist cause in the slightest. It is hard to relinquish your power when you are being beaten with a stick. There is a danger that many feminist narratives leave men feeling defensive and threatened, rather than encouraged to support women who need it if our world is to become more equitable. After all, women still constitute only 5.8% and 10.4% of all CEOs of Fortune 500 companies globally and in the U.S., respectively. Women account for a woeful SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
The article discusses the emerging gender rift within Gen Z, highlighting the issues of feminism, masculinity, and gender equality. These issues are directly connected to SDG 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. The article also touches on the economic struggles pushing men towards more conservative beliefs, which relates to SDG 10, which focuses on reducing inequalities. Additionally, the article mentions the need for unity and social cohesion, which aligns with SDG 16, which aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies.
Based on the article’s content, specific targets under SDG 5 include ending discrimination against women and recognizing the value of unpaid care and domestic work. Under SDG 10, the target is to promote the inclusion of all individuals, regardless of their characteristics or status. Finally, under SDG 16, the target is to ensure inclusive and representative decision-making processes.
The article does not explicitly mention indicators, but based on the identified targets, the following indicators can be used to measure progress towards those targets. These indicators include assessing the presence of legal frameworks promoting equality and non-discrimination, measuring the proportion of time spent on unpaid domestic and care work, evaluating income disparities based on age, sex, and disability, and examining the representation of different groups in public institutions.
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere | Indicator 5.1.1: Whether or not legal frameworks are in place to promote, enforce, and monitor equality and non-discrimination on the basis of sex |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status | Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, by age, sex, and persons with disabilities |
| Target 5.4: Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure, and social protection policies | Indicator 5.4.1: Proportion of time spent on unpaid domestic and care work | |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making at all levels | Indicator 16.7.1: Proportions of positions (by sex, age, persons with disabilities, and population groups) in public institutions (national and local legislatures, public service, and judiciary) compared to national distributions |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: fortune.com
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