Gen Z Men & Gender Norms: Identity, Pressures, and Aspirations
On October 30, the Institute of Global Politics (IGP) Women’s Initiative inaugurated its social norms roundtable series and convened a student discussion with public opinion expert Tresa Undem on her latest report about changing gender norms among young men. Conducted through her research firm PerryUndem, the qualitative study examined young men’s well-being, sense of disconnection, and shifting attitudes toward gender equality. By spotlighting young men’s often-overlooked perspectives, the report offered a glimpse into the psychological factors that fuel these changes and explored how women’s advocates might shift their strategy to social inclusion.
The conversation was moderated by the codirectors of the Women’s Initiative, Rachel Vogelstein, head of SIPA’s Human Rights, Gender, and Equity (HRGE) concentration and associate professor of professional practice, and Jennifer Klein, professor of professional practice. The event was cosponsored by the HRGE Concentration and the Urban and Social Policy (USP) concentration.
Undem began the discussion by emphasizing that “traditional ideas of masculinity are alive and well.” Many respondents cited masculinity as central to their identity, particularly the roles of provider and protector. While most acknowledged that ideals like emotional suppression and dominance were outdated, these traditional narratives still held deep significance.
Undem noted that men face cultural pressures to espouse these norms, leading to a hyper-focus on outward markers of success and appearance. Economic uncertainty amplified these pressures, with Undem observing a juxtaposition between men’s desire to align with masculine narratives and their experience of economic hardship. “Everybody, especially young people, knows that in our country, it’s not the Constitution that gives you freedom, safety, and opportunity – it’s money,” she said. “For young men, that continued stress will manifest in their self-esteem, mental health, and relationships.”
Beyond cultural and economic pressures, Undem pointed to adversarial political messaging as a key factor in men’s attitudes toward feminism. “Feminists have often approached men as the problem, the aggressors,” she said. “Men feel like the feminist movement, which they saw as pro-woman, shifted to anti-men.” According to Undem’s report, this messaging has contributed to political alienation within the two-party system, with male respondents claiming that Democrats did not offer space for masculinity and authenticity, leading to political disillusionment.
As the roundtable concluded, Undem outlined a path forward rooted in including men in the fight for women’s rights. “We don’t want them to come in and solve all the problems,” she said, “but is there a way for them to come in and help?” Undem encouraged advocacy within the household, noting that gender norms often begin in the home – so even small changes, like more equitable division of chores, can foster progress toward gender equality and inclusion.
Undem’s research ultimately suggests that young men are not inherently opposed to gender equality but rather are caught between cultural pressures, economic anxiety, and political narratives that have made them feel unwelcome. By shifting to a more inclusive approach, she highlighted that advocates may find allies where they once saw only opposition. As Undem put it: “We need to invite them in.”