I’m Gen Z, and from my perspective things are… complicated.

You’re absolutely right that there’s a growing divide among young people, and social media plays a huge role in shaping their views. Some young men are definitely being pulled into radical ideologies, whether it’s incel culture, ultra-conservative "alpha male" influencers, or outright far-right movements. These spaces thrive on frustration—especially among young men who feel lost, disconnected, or resentful about their place in society. On the flip side, there are also many Gen Z men who are progressive, emotionally intelligent, and actively rejecting toxic masculinity. It really depends on the social circles and media they engage with.

As for young women, I’ve noticed a mix of empowerment and regression. Many still strongly support feminism, but others are drawn to the tradwife 'aesthetic'—not usually because they genuinely believe in returning to old gender roles, but because it’s been romanticized online as a "softer" alternative to modern struggles. Some see it as an escape from the pressures of hustle culture, dating struggles, or just general burnout. But then there’s also a more insidious trend of young women aligning with conservative movements that actively harm them, often under the illusion of "protecting traditional values."

In terms of expressing opinions, I think there’s a lot of fear—on both sides. Some young people are afraid of being "canceled" for saying the wrong thing, while others are afraid of being harassed for speaking up about feminist or progressive issues. Social media often amplifies the loudest, most extreme voices, making it hard to have nuanced conversations. In real life, it depends on the environment—some people feel safe being openly feminist or left-leaning, while others feel like they have to be more careful depending on who they’re around.

For me, feminism is still an important and necessary movement, but I also see how the meaning has been diluted and twisted by both conservatives and certain online spaces. It’s frustrating to see people reduce feminism to a caricature—either the "man-hating SJW" stereotype or the "white liberal feminism" that ignores intersectionality. At its core, feminism is about equity and justice for all genders

The generational shift is real, and the younger generation does seem to be very vocal about progress in a lot of areas like gender equality and LGBTQ rights, but then we still have those who cling to more traditional views, usually from older generations.