Study sparks debate as men say gender equality efforts have gone too far

A new global survey by Ipsos has revealed a growing sense of “gender equality fatigue”, with most men feeling that efforts to advance women’s rights have gone far enough.

The study, which surveyed 29 countries across six continents—Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Africa and Oceania—points to a shifting mood that could shape the future of gender advocacy. Across the countries surveyed, most men say they are already doing too much to support equality. Fifty-four per cent of them hold this view, compared to 38 per cent of women.

The study also finds that one in two men believe the push for gender equality has gone so far that it now discriminates against them. On average, 52 per cent of men agree with this statement, compared to 36 per cent of women. These findings raise a critical question: what is driving this sense of fatigue, and what does it mean for ongoing efforts to close gender gaps?

A sense of exhaustion

For some practitioners, the fatigue is not entirely surprising. “What we have observed is that there seems to be fatigue among many actors, including donors,” said Kamau Ngugi, executive director of the Defenders Coalition, in an earlier interview. “They feel they have invested significant resources and time in advocating gender equality and ending violence against women.”

He argued that part of the problem lies in how gender equality efforts are framed. “People treat addressing gender-based violence as an event. There is a rush to move on to the next 'exciting' issue just when we begin to see breakthroughs,” he said, adding that meaningful change, particularly in attitudes and social norms, requires sustained, long-term investment.

“The bigger concern is that institutions tend to adopt short-term plans, yet changing attitudes demand long-term commitment, both financially and in terms of time. There is a kind of mid-term fatigue among institutions, governments and international actors that they must actively work to overcome.”

Divided public opinion

Among the public, perceptions of gender equality efforts are far from uniform. Ednah Korir, a mother of four boys in Eldoret, says that while women and girls still face significant challenges such as access to water, boys are increasingly overlooked in other areas. “I feel like young men are disadvantaged when it comes to employment. Boys may do well in school, but these days young women seem more likely to secure jobs,” she says.

Charles Nzuki, a Bachelor of Science in Statistics graduate from the University of Nairobi, echoes similar concerns. “I fully support efforts to empower women and girls,” he says, “but we should also address the challenges facing men and boys at the same time. That way, progress happens side by side.”

For Tom Raj, a Nairobi resident, the picture is more nuanced. “The reality is that men still hold power in many organisations,” he says, “but there are sectors where women are now doing better than men.”

He adds that perceptions of inequality often depend on context. “From the outside, it may seem like more is being done for girls, but it depends on factors such as region and cultural beliefs. Someone can be educated and still hold traditional views.”

Risk to progress

Researchers warn that this perceived fatigue could undermine progress in tackling inequality. Lyndon Aduda, a field research manager at Innovations for Poverty Action, cautions against interpreting the findings as evidence that gender equality has been achieved. “There cannot be gender equality fatigue when we still have persistent cases of domestic violence,” he says.

Lyndon says that what is being described as fatigue may instead reflect resistance to change. “It is often perceived that women’s empowerment does not sit well with some men, particularly those with more traditional views,” he explains. “This can lead to narratives suggesting that men are being left behind or that women are being over-empowered.”

He points to ongoing policy gaps as evidence that equality remains unfinished. “If you look at existing policies, issues such as the two-thirds gender rule are still unresolved. So, in terms of facts, it is difficult to say that we have reached a point of fatigue.”

Rethinking the approach

Lyndon suggests a shift in both messaging and programming, arguing that there is a need to better communicate why women and girls remain a priority, while highlighting the broader societal benefits of gender equality. “Men need to clearly understand why there is a focus on women and girls, and the opportunities that come with empowering them,” he says.

At the same time, he calls for more initiatives that directly engage men and boys. “We also need programmes that are specifically designed for men. There are not many of these, and creating them could help ensure men feel included in the broader equality agenda.”

[email protected]