A recent study has uncovered that nearly one-third of young boys, some as young as 13, harbor misogynistic beliefs, including the idea that men are more entitled to jobs than women when opportunities are limited. The research, which surveyed 1,100 young people in Australia and compared their views with 2,300 adults, found that 30.1 percent of these adolescents held this view.
Researchers also discovered that 31.8 percent of young people surveyed believed that efforts to promote gender equality have gone too far, and nearly a quarter felt that feminism is detrimental to society and could warrant resistance, even through violence. These attitudes are particularly concerning as they are not confined to adults radicalized online, but are prevalent among teenage boys, who were most likely to express misogynistic views, mistrust of women, and adherence to rigid gender roles, according to study author Dr. Sara Meger of the University of Melbourne.
The study strongly linked the development of misogynistic attitudes to the online content young people consume. Engagement with "manosphere" content, pornography, and online dating platforms showed the most significant correlation with these views. Teachers reported instances of students quoting influencers like Andrew Tate and using "manosphere" language to justify non-compliance with female instructors while obeying male colleagues, with some of this behavior observed in children as young as six.
Experts suggest that the rise of "manosphere" content, exemplified by influencers such as Andrew Tate, is a contributing factor. Social media feeds and algorithms are described as "fertile ground" for promoting violence, as noted by Dr. Meger. This phenomenon has also been explored in documentaries, such as Louis Theroux's "Inside The Manosphere," which investigates how extremist influencers promote ideas about masculinity and gender roles to young boys, positioning themselves as rebels against feminism and modern society.
Chanel Contos, CEO of Teach Us Consent, highlighted the impact of this harmful online content, stating that it contributes to the promotion of violence against women and girls, with consequences seen in schools and communities. A previous poll of 500 teenage boys in the UK indicated that 73 percent had encountered misogynistic or harmful content online, often within 18 minutes of logging on, a figure that has increased over the past two years.
The study also found that misogyny affects teenage girls, with younger girls being more likely than older generations to agree with notions of male sexual entitlement. Gen Z women, aged 14 to 29, were twice as likely as Millennial women, aged 30 to 45, to agree that marriage implies a right to sex, even against a wife's wishes. Experts emphasize that these attitudes are not inevitable and that early prevention is key, as these beliefs can form during adolescence. The findings reinforce the connection between misogynistic attitudes and real-world harm and violence.