Are The Men All Right? Addressing Misogyny In This Current Climate

Prepared by Sara Rizal

21 July 2026

A recent study conducted by Ipsos and the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King’s College London found that a significant number of young men hold traditional and concerningly regressive views about gender roles and women. Covering 29 countries and 23,000 people, the study’s main headline is that almost a third of Gen Z men globally agree that a wife should obey her husband. The study is purely quantitative, with no follow-up interviews asking what determines respondents’ answers. However, context from gender norms and relations in 2026 can help unpack why the data reveals such patterns.

Everyone loses playing the Zero-Sum Game

A striking observation from the study is that the pursuit of gender equality is still misunderstood as a zero-sum game. Gender-based zero-sum thinking is rooted in the belief that women’s gains directly correlate with men’s losses. Progress for women is seen as inherently disadvantageous to men, as doing more for women means doing less for men. If women get a slice of the cake, there will be less for men.

This presumed dichotomy is dangerous because it breeds discontent among men who feel that they have to compete with women for the same opportunities. The assumption that the pursuit of equal rights for women has gone far enough is far removed from reality. While shares vary by industry, globally, only 31% of women hold leadership positions[1]. According to Grant Thornton’s recent Women In Business Report, in Malaysia women’s representation in senior management decreased from 40.4% in 2023 to 36.2% in 2025 across a sample of 86 businesses[2]. Simultaneously, the share of businesses with zero female representation in senior management increased significantly from 2.8% in 2024 to 9.3% in 2025[2].

Nobody really wins in the Manosphere

Besides reports that a third of Gen Z men globally agree that a wife should obey her husband, other similar findings suggest support for traditional gender norms compared to older generations of men and Gen Z women. For instance, 21% of Gen Z men think that men are less masculine if they’re involved in childcare, compared to 8% of Boomer men and 14% of Gen Z women[3]. Also, almost a quarter of Gen Z men agree that a woman should not appear too independent or self-sufficient, compared with 12% of Baby Boomer men[3]. Among the countries surveyed, Malaysia was among the few that ranked highly in agreement with these statements. Such findings suggest that this younger generation of men possesses views that reinforce the patriarchy.

Patriarchy is a social system providing men with material advantages and a framework for male identity that requires minimal effort. Within this framework, privileged men do not need to be professionally accomplished to secure social and financial stability and/or a relationship. However, as women generally become more educated, economically independent, and autonomous, the systemic advantage Gen Z men thought they would have over women is decreasing. Societal expectations among men are shifting, and it is this shift and sustained loss of patriarchal advantage that they are struggling to navigate.

Enter the Manosphere: A collection of websites, videos, podcasts, and social media content that perpetuates anti-feminist, misogynistic, and hypermasculine views. Influencers such as Andrew Tate inform impressionable young men that to be “successful”, they must work hard, exhibit no emotions, and treat women as inferior to them. By following these principles, they too can attain the lavish lifestyle these influencers display on social media. The manosphere appears to offer its young male audience a solution to their actual concerns, such as romantic rejection, economic status, and loneliness, which is essentially repackaged patriarchy[4]. However, equating a young man’s financial success to individual efforts and social status to women’s subjugation is a gross misrepresentation and does not highlight the actual reasons for their discontent.

At The Heart Of Men’s Discontent

Placing the onus entirely on individuals to achieve economic advancement ignores the structural factors that hinder upward mobility, especially for the less privileged. Concurrently, equating men’s value based on whether they can attract, “retain”, and dominate women fails to account for what happens when women reject them. This overreliance on self-determination and the association of men’s worth with women’s approval is harmful, as young men are subjected to intense pressure to succeed socially, financially, and romantically, and are left feeling ashamed when they cannot. More dangerously, men may react violently to women’s rejections, thus subjecting women to gender-based violence, something that is not uncommon in Malaysia, as consistently reported in the media, especially among Malaysian youth. Clearly, upholding patriarchy and traditional gender roles is not necessarily a solution to the problems faced by men or women, and this power dynamic that young men are trying to embody is ironically what is trapping them in a cycle of resentment.

Real Gender Equality

We must frame the pursuit of gender equality as a positive-sum outcome rather than a zero-sum game. All the evidence suggests that gender equality is not about competing for a bigger slice of the pie; it’s about making the pie bigger[5]. For instance, macroeconomic simulations conducted by the World Bank predict that closing the gaps between men’s and women’s economic opportunities could gradually boost Malaysia’s income per capita by 26.2 per cent, an average annual income gain of RM9,400 for each Malaysian[6]. Additionally, businesses with gender equality strategies can enhance innovation within firms[7]. Recognising this potential requires moving away from direct competition and focusing on the bigger picture[2].

Moving beyond a zero-sum mindset in gender relations requires a collective effort from parents, educators, policymakers, and the media[5]. We must foster a growth mindset rather than a scarcity mindset by framing discussions about gender around opportunities for mutual benefit. In addition, Gen Z men must contend with the fact that masculinity is no longer the organising principle of social structures. Instead, they must reimagine a version of success that is not dependent on the subjugation of women. Only then can gender progress be embraced as a shared endeavour rather than a divisive struggle[5]. When we are confined to heteronormative thinking, where gender discussions are framed as binaries or comparisons, we limit the possibilities of what a more equitable and thriving society could look like. References

World Economic Forum (2022) “Global Gender Gap Report 2022”

Grant Thornton (2026) “Women In Business Report”

Moser, J. and Skinner, G. (2026) “International Women’s Day 2026” Ipsos

Dubey, D. (2024) “Feminism Is Not A Zero-Sum Game: Then Why Are Gen Z Men Turning Away From It?” Feminism In India

Stantcheva, S. (2024) “Beyond zero-sum thinking in gender” American Institute for Boys and Men

World Bank Group (2019) “Breaking Barriers: Toward Better Economic Opportunities for Women in Malaysia”