Just 35 per cent of British women under the age of 25 hold a positive view of men, according to a new poll. The findings, from a survey by Merlin Strategy for the New Statesman, reveal that only 11 per cent of young women have a very positive view, while women under 30 are three times as likely to hold a negative view of men compared to those over 30.
The research indicates that young women “don’t care for” young men, believing the feelings are mutual. They cite an over-focus on sexual motivation and a lack of concern about political issues. Women aged 18 to 30 were found to be the most progressive demographic in the UK, being 26 percentage points less likely than young men to feel positively about capitalism.
Young women are also far more pessimistic about their economic prospects. They are much less likely to believe the economy works in their favour and, despite young men being more likely to be unemployed, young women are 21 points less likely to believe they will earn more than their parents. More privileged women were found to be the most pessimistic, with those in middle-class professions less likely to feel valued by society or that hard work leads to success.
Under-25s were twice as likely as young men not to want children, with some expressing fear of being pressured into having babies by a Reform UK government. In interviews, young women described feeling that men do not see them as human and that interactions are often sexually motivated. One girl, Ruby, said: “I don’t care for them. They’re not bad people, but they refuse to call out their friends who make other girls uncomfortable.”
The group agreed they would not date a man with different politics, with one stating: “I don’t think I’d even be friends with one. They don’t see you as human.” Evelyn, who has male friends, expressed concern about the content they consume online, noting “the stuff that’s being said about women is crazy.”
