Recent evidence suggests growing ideological differences between young men and women, with two key trends emerging since 2018. Young women increasingly align with progressive positions, whether on the liberal-conservative spectrum in the U.S. or the left-right divide in Western Europe. In some cases, this shift moves them toward more leftist stances; in others, their preferences remain stable. In contrast, young men are trending toward right-wing positions, with a notable shift to the right in the past five years, widening the ideological gap.
This paper investigates why this divergence is occurring. We propose three interrelated explanations. First, the implementation of feminist policies promoting gender equality may have triggered a backlash among young men, fostering feelings of alienation and mistrust toward parties championing these policies. Second, the COVID-19 pandemic and its restrictions heightened young men’s sense of insecurity and mistrust in public institutions. Third, social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok have fragmented public discourse while amplifying radical content. Unfiltered by traditional gatekeepers, these platforms allow young men to encounter and engage with ideologically extreme messages.
Using original survey data from the GENPOL project, this study evaluates these explanations and examines the underlying drivers of young men’s growing distance from feminism and gender equality policies. By addressing this ideological polarization, the paper contributes to understanding the political implications of these trends and their broader impact on democratic systems.