A quarter of UK adults believe progress on gender equality is bad for men

New research released to mark International Day of the Girl shows shocking findings on attitudes towards gender equality are prevalent across the UK. 

The polling of over 2,000 adults across the UK by global girls’ rights charity Plan International UK found that almost one in four UK adults (23%) believe that the advancement of gender equality has had a negative impact on men. A further one in five (20%) think that a return to traditional gender roles – with women primarily managing the household and men as the main earners – would have a positive impact on society. 

Alarmingly, nearly one in ten (9%) say women now have too much influence or power in the UK, while over a third (37%) believe women have ‘about the right amount’. 

Results are even more stark amongst Gen Z men. Among younger men in the sample (aged 18-24), almost a third (32%) believe men have been negatively affected by gender equality, and 29% believe a return to traditional gender roles would be positive for society. 

Alongside the research, Plan International UK have partnered with famous faces including Hillary Clinton, Mel B, Sarina Wiegman and Skunk Anansie’s lead singer Skin, who have designed bespoke protest posters to raise awareness that progress towards gender equality is stalling and hard-won rights are under threat.   

The research points to several factors contributing to the negative attitudes towards gender equality that are gaining momentum: 

• 61% of 18-34 year old men in the UK have engaged online with content that discusses masculinity. Of these, 41% say they have learned something from masculinity content creators, and 40% have felt positively influenced or inspired by it. While some of this content offers genuine support, UN Women* reports that it often promotes harmful views about women.
• Three in ten (31%) UK adults think that recent political changes have increased levels of misogyny in society over the past three years
• Areas people feel things have worsened or stalled for women and girls around the world include legal protections against violence (51%) and career or employment opportunities (45%).  

 Jennifer, aged 21, from London and member of Plan International UK’s Youth Advisory Panel said: 

“This research is really concerning. Even though I’m chronically online, I didn’t expect attitudes like this to be so common. I think the meaning of gender equality has been twisted by culture and certain agendas – but to me, it simply means women and girls having the choice and freedom to live their lives. From my experience, we are nowhere near achieving true equality. If we had, people wouldn’t be saying it’s a bad thing for men, because real equality benefits everyone.” 

 Rose Caldwell, CEO at Plan International UK, said: 

“Progress towards gender equality has transformed lives and much has changed for girls that should be celebrated. Yet these findings reveal that the idea girls’ and women’s rights have gone far enough is gaining ground here in the UK. On International Day of the Girl, we are calling out this growing resistance to equality in the UK and worldwide. 

“We are already seeing signs of stagnation both in the UK and around the world: women and girls are facing abuse and misogyny online and in public, reproductive rights are being restricted, and girls’ access to education is being limited. When one girl is pushed back, we all fall behind. 

"Gender equality helps everyone, and we know from our work in over eighty countries that boys and men have just as much to gain from building a fairer, more equal future.”

To find out more about International Day of the Girl and how Plan International UK are helping girls to thrive in their communities, visit plan-uk.org/international-day-of-the-girl

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Notes to editors: 

* UN Women report that online communities known collectively as the “manosphere” is emerging as a serious threat to gender equality: https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/06/1164531 

Methodology: 

• Opinium Research ran a nationally representative survey of 2,050 adults in the UK between 17th and 19th September 2025.