Nearly one in three teenage boys say gender equality has gone too far
A University of Melbourne study found almost one in three teenage boys believe gender equality efforts have gone too far.
New research from the University of Melbourne has uncovered a troubling change in what young Australians think about equality. Almost one in three teenage boys surveyed said efforts to give women equal opportunities have gone too far.
Social media communities that promote anti-feminist views are often called the manosphere. Researchers say the real problem goes deeper.
The internet spreads these beliefs rather than creating them, said Dr Sara Meger, an author of the study. A major factor is change over the past decade.
Young boys see online content that makes money by telling them equality comes at their expense. This message spreads fast through social media because it provokes strong reactions.
- Almost one in three
- Teenage boys surveyed
- University of Melbourne
- Research institution
- Dr Sara Meger
- Study author
Why it mattersThe research reveals a concerning view among young men that contradicts decades of progress toward gender equality in Australia.
AustraliaIf these attitudes harden as teenage boys age into the workforce and public life, it could affect workplace culture, policy support for women's equality, and relationships across Australian society.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 4 d ago
