Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg asserts that businesses require greater “masculine energy.” Former President Donald Trump claims that “humanity is under attack.” The US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, contends that the Boy Scouts have deviated from their mission of “cultivating masculine values,” and their “boy-friendly space” is at risk.
These voices are not isolated. They are influential figures articulating sentiments that resonate with many men, particularly younger generations, in recent times.
A 2025 study indicates that Gen Z men and women are the most divided generation regarding gender equality, as reported by Ipsos UK and King’s College London’s Global Women’s Leadership Institute.
The survey discovered that 60% of Gen Z men feel pressured to exceed expectations in supporting equality, while 57% believe that society discriminates against men by overemphasizing women’s equality.
What’s driving this divide? Notable statistics suggest a significant crisis might be emerging for men.
For example, men in the United States have, on average, a life expectancy of five years less than women; this gap is more pronounced in recent years. They are now three times more likely to die from drug overdoses and have a fourfold higher risk of suicide.
Beyond these grim statistics, there’s other evidence indicating that men face emerging challenges, particularly in education.
Research from Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan think tank, found that in 1995, young men and women were equally likely to obtain a bachelor’s degree, with approximately one in four completing it. By 2024, however, 47% of women aged 25 to 34 will have earned a degree, compared to only 37% of men, with women’s degree attainment increasing at a much higher rate.
Gender disparities are also visible in schooling. A 2018 study of eighth graders nationwide revealed that while math achievement was comparable, girls consistently outperformed boys in English.
This influence continues post-education. Over the five decades preceding the COVID-19 pandemic, men’s participation in the U.S. workforce declined by about 10%; furthermore, there were additional decreases in the following years.
Yet, these alarming figures represent only part of the narrative. Although men encounter distinct challenges, the data does not suggest that current efforts toward gender equality have exceeded reasonable bounds, despite claims from some in positions of authority. Four frequently cited statistics illustrate the nuanced reality of the situation.
1. Men Report Higher Happiness Levels.
Despite men’s struggles with well-being, surveys indicate that men are generally happier and more satisfied with their lives than women. A 2024 cross-country study found strong evidence that men currently experience higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction than women.
Using data from the U.S. General Social Survey, researchers noted that average happiness levels for men and women were quite similar from 1973 to 2021. However, during the pandemic, happiness levels plummeted for both genders, with women’s satisfaction experiencing a sharper decline.
Moreover, European survey data indicated that men reported higher happiness than women across various dimensions, including calmness, sleep quality, cheerfulness, loneliness, and anxiety.
2. Men Earn 20% More Than Women.
In terms of earnings, men consistently earn more than women worldwide. According to the United Nations, women’s salaries are approximately 20% lower, a gap that is less favorable than men’s earnings.
This implies that, on average, women earn about 80 cents for every dollar earned by men globally. In the U.S., although the gap has narrowed over the years, women working full-time earn 83% of their male counterparts’ income in 2023.
3. 90% of the Most Powerful Positions Are Held by Men.
Men substantially dominate leadership roles in both government and business.
Worldwide, women are represented in only about 27% of parliamentary seats, meaning that men hold approximately three-quarters of these positions.
Additionally, as of October 2024, only one-tenth of countries globally have a woman in a top government role.
Similarly, a pattern persists in business, where despite a record number of women leading major corporations in the U.S., 55 out of the Fortune 500 have female CEOs.
4. Men Enjoy More Leisure Time.
Another frequently overlooked aspect is that men typically have more leisure time compared to women.
According to recent data shows that American men spend roughly 45 minutes more daily on leisure activities, while women dedicate an extra hour and 20 minutes to unpaid tasks such as housework, shopping, and caregiving.
This disparity is evident to varying degrees in nearly all surveyed countries. In Norway, the difference is minimal, at 4 minutes per day in 2020, while in Portugal, it reaches nearly an hour and a half (89 minutes).
The Real Gender Story
When considered together, these statistics reveal a far more intricate picture than the “male crisis” narrative suggests.
While there are undeniable concerns about men’s health, education, and economic participation, men still hold a disproportionate amount of power, earn higher wages, and enjoy more leisure time.
There isn’t a singular narrative on either side that captures these complexities.
As Professor Jeon Hee-jung, director of King’s Global Women’s Leadership Institute, posits, framing this moment as a crisis of masculinity is misguided. The actual issue is one of opportunity crisis, particularly for the youth.
“We haven’t equipped our boys to understand that the current patriarchal system is detrimental to them as well,” she remarks.
Chung describes the past few decades as a “revolutionary stagnation.” While society has indeed made strides in “masculinizing” women by integrating more women into the workforce and promoting roles in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), societal expectations surrounding caregiving, primary breadwinning, and domestic responsibilities have largely remained unchanged.
Consequently, Chung asserts, the system has been partially rewired, leading to a disconnect and increased friction for all.
“Gender tensions divert attention from real issues, which are the structural changes occurring in society and the various disparities among income groups,” she adds.
In essence, we find ourselves in an unsettling transition between outdated models that are no longer viable and new frameworks that have yet to fully materialize.
This turmoil may evoke a sense of discomfort, but as we progress, the gender gap could begin to lessen, allowing us to tackle the deeper issues influencing people’s lives, as Chung envisions.
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Source: www.sciencefocus.com
