'Traditional Gender Norms Are the Exact Opposite' of What UK Economy Needs, New Report Finds
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As the far right movement gathers pace in the UK, and violence and hostility towards women deepens, a new study has found that gender inequality is worsening financial hardship in economically deprived regions.
The findings, from Kings College London, come weeks after polling by IPSOS for JOE Media Group of Gen Z voters revealed over half of men believe they're expected to do too much to support gender equality and that it has gone "too far" and 54% of Reform voters - many of whom are young men - believe that males are being discriminated against, as do 44% of Brexit voters.
Some of the most gender unequal regions in Britain are "left behind" communities in the north and midlands, where Reform UK saw significant gains in the May local elections.
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Report author Dr Caitlin Schmid told Byline Times: "We're seeing a lot of narratives that try to take us back to more traditional gender norms, even though our research shows that is the exact opposite of what we need, and will not address the legitimate grievances that women and men have, across the country, which have come out of decades of austerity."
Yorkshire and the Humber, Wales and Northern Ireland have the lowest levels of gender equality, researchers found, while London and the north-west of England are the most gender equal. No local authority in the UK has achieved gender equality.
Women shouldering a larger burden of childcare and domestic work, and being under-represented in politics and leadership roles are key factors blocking regional progress towards gender equality.
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The report also found that gender inequality leads to poor outcomes for both women and men, such as lower wages for women, and poorer health outcomes for men.
Dr Schmid stresses that investment in childcare infrastructure is critical if we want to "unlock greater productivity" in these deprived regions, particularly in rural areas.
In regions where men are more actively involved in childcare and domestic work, they tend to experience positive health outcomes such as higher fertility and a lower risk of suicide.
The point I always want to come back to is that it's not a zero sum game: women's progress does not mean men's regress, our society and our economy depends on both doing well
Dr Caitlin Schmid, report author
Young men captured by the 'manosphere' often rely on this narrative to counter claims of misogyny, which was a central theme in Netflix's Adolescence series which ignited public debate after its release in March, made UK TV history, and led to its creators meeting with the Prime Minister about how best to "protect our children".
According to The Centre for Countering Digital Hate, the world's largest incel online forum received 2.7 million visits between January and March 2025 which illustrates the scope of the problem impacting young men, and the role of the internet in spreading the message.
Laura Bates, author of 'The New Age of Sexism', also found that it takes just 30 minutes for TikTok to show extreme misogynistic content to teenage boys when they set up a new account.
But while the media focuses on young men and their far-right leanings, and painstakingly tracks the rise of Reform and its leader, Nigel Farage, little attention is paid to young women and their move to the political...
Packed with exclusive investigations, analysis, and features
SUBSCRIBE TODAY
As the far right movement gathers pace in the UK, and violence and hostility towards women deepens, a new study has found that gender inequality is worsening financial hardship in economically deprived regions.
The findings, from Kings College London, come weeks after polling by IPSOS for JOE Media Group of Gen Z voters revealed over half of men believe they're expected to do too much to support gender equality and that it has gone "too far" and 54% of Reform voters - many of whom are young men - believe that males are being discriminated against, as do 44% of Brexit voters.
Some of the most gender unequal regions in Britain are "left behind" communities in the north and midlands, where Reform UK saw significant gains in the May local elections.
The UK Is Failing to Tackle Violence Against Women Amid Rise of Misogynistic Influencers
Reduced budgets, rising online hate and the lack of an effective national strategy, are deepening the threat faced by women and girls, warn MPs
David Hencke
Report author Dr Caitlin Schmid told Byline Times: "We're seeing a lot of narratives that try to take us back to more traditional gender norms, even though our research shows that is the exact opposite of what we need, and will not address the legitimate grievances that women and men have, across the country, which have come out of decades of austerity."
Yorkshire and the Humber, Wales and Northern Ireland have the lowest levels of gender equality, researchers found, while London and the north-west of England are the most gender equal. No local authority in the UK has achieved gender equality.
Women shouldering a larger burden of childcare and domestic work, and being under-represented in politics and leadership roles are key factors blocking regional progress towards gender equality.
'For Too Long, Men Have Been Invisible in a Media Conversation Focusing on "Violence Against Women", Not "Male Violence"
The latest episode of the hit Media Storm podcast focuses on how journalism is still failing to challenge the structural forces of patriarchy and misogyny
Mathilda Mallinson and Helena Wadia
The report also found that gender inequality leads to poor outcomes for both women and men, such as lower wages for women, and poorer health outcomes for men.
Dr Schmid stresses that investment in childcare infrastructure is critical if we want to "unlock greater productivity" in these deprived regions, particularly in rural areas.
In regions where men are more actively involved in childcare and domestic work, they tend to experience positive health outcomes such as higher fertility and a lower risk of suicide.
The point I always want to come back to is that it's not a zero sum game: women's progress does not mean men's regress, our society and our economy depends on both doing well
Dr Caitlin Schmid, report author
Young men captured by the 'manosphere' often rely on this narrative to counter claims of misogyny, which was a central theme in Netflix's Adolescence series which ignited public debate after its release in March, made UK TV history, and led to its creators meeting with the Prime Minister about how best to "protect our children".
According to The Centre for Countering Digital Hate, the world's largest incel online forum received 2.7 million visits between January and March 2025 which illustrates the scope of the problem impacting young men, and the role of the internet in spreading the message.
Laura Bates, author of 'The New Age of Sexism', also found that it takes just 30 minutes for TikTok to show extreme misogynistic content to teenage boys when they set up a new account.
But while the media focuses on young men and their far-right leanings, and painstakingly tracks the rise of Reform and its leader, Nigel Farage, little attention is paid to young women and their move to the political...
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