A New Global Gender Divide is Emerging? – Lecture by Alice Evans

Speaker:

Alice Evans, Visiting fellow, Stanford University; Senior Lecturer, King’s College London; Author of the book titled “The great gender divergence”

Main takeaways:

• In many countries, an ideological divide has opened up between young men and women: while young women are increasingly liberal, young men are increasingly conservative, with a growing proportion expressing concern that women's rights are going too far. What are the possible reasons for this phenomenon?
• The traditional institution of marriage is changing - marriage rates are falling in many countries. Economic and cultural changes are enabling women to live independently, weakening traditional reasons for marriage such as respect and financial security. With less financial and social pressure to marry, women are becoming more selective in their choice of partners, often prioritising love and emotional compatibility.
• Across many countries, young women are overtaking men in educational attainment, while less educated men are struggling with the automation of traditional jobs such as manufacturing or construction. As a result of these processes, there is a growing cultural divide between university-educated women and less-educated men, leading to mismatched expectations in relationships. In addition, the modern workplace is becoming much more egalitarian, with salaries more closely aligned than in the past, giving women more independence.
• In many societies, feminist activism has reshaped gender norms, with women increasingly rejecting traditional roles of self-sacrifice in relationships. Popular cultural icons such as Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus symbolise modern female independence, celebrating singlehood and challenging traditional expectations of marriage and motherhood.
• Many men, especially those who lack social skills or economic success, are struggling in the dating market as women's expectations of relationships rise. The frustrations of some young men, exacerbated by rejection and economic hardship, have led to a backlash and the rise of online manosphere communities that promote misogyny. Social media and cultural influencers (e.g. Andrew Tate) shape narratives that reinforce young men's resentment and fuel criticism of women as greedy or materialistic.