A major international survey has revealed that nearly a third of Gen Z men believe a wife should always obey her husband, a view more common among younger men than among baby boomers. The research, conducted by Ipsos and the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King’s College London across 29 countries including the UK, challenges the assumption that younger generations are more progressive on gender equality.
The study found that 31% of men born between 1997 and 2012 agreed that women should obey their husbands, and a similar proportion said a husband should have the final say on important decisions. In contrast, baby boomers (born 1946-1964) held more liberal views on issues ranging from who should initiate sex to women’s independence. Only 18% of Gen Z women shared the view that wives should obey their husbands, highlighting a significant gender gap within the age group.
Joan Smith, a baby boomer commentator, expressed shock at the findings, noting that such attitudes seemed to belong to the 1970s, when sex discrimination laws were being introduced. She suggested that economic insecurity, including student debt and a tough job market, may be driving young men towards traditional gender roles. The survey also showed that 43% of Gen Z men agreed that young men should try to be physically tough, indicating a retreat into rigid masculinity.
The research comes amid concerns about violence against women in the UK, with Smith linking misogynistic attitudes to crimes such as the murder of Sarah Everard. She warned that online influencers like Andrew Tate are exploiting young men’s frustrations, and that harsh economic conditions, while an explanation, are no excuse for sexist beliefs.
