Gen Z and the Quiet Rollback: Why Young Men Are Suddenly Expecting Obedience from Women Again

You know the feeling, right? You're relaxing at a local pub, finished your burger, enjoying a local craft beer – and then the conversation turns to young people. Back in the day, we used to get worked up about long hair or loud music. Today, it's more complicated. A lot more complicated. Because while we thought each new generation would automatically become more liberal, more tolerant, and more equal, it turns out: In some ways, Generation Z holds shockingly conservative views. Especially when it comes to the roles of men and women.

The Shock for Boomer Parents

A recent, widely discussed study from the UK has confirmed it in black and white: Nearly a third of young men between 16 and 29 think a wife should obey her husband. Not in conservative religious sects, not in some developing country – but right next door, in a country we often culturally perceive as progressive. I nearly choked on my coffee when I saw that number. My parents, total boomers, were appalled. They fought for self-determination in the 70s, and now their grandkids roll their eyes at the mention of equality? It really makes you wonder: Have we been looking in the wrong direction this whole time?

Mama's Boys and the Prince Effect

Of course, you immediately ask: How did it come to this? The answer might be closer than we think. I recently came across a comment from a British columnist that hit on a point I can't get out of my head. She says we moms (and dads) should finally stop treating our sons like little princes. No joke. If we teach boys from a young age that the world belongs to them, that they should be served, that they're the strong heroes and girls are the pretty princesses, then we shouldn't be surprised by the outcome later on. This Gen Z didn't just fall from the sky. They're our kids. And a chunk of them – admittedly, a frighteningly large chunk – apparently got the message loud and clear: The man is in charge.

Protests Here, Rollback There – The Contradictions of a Generation

The confusing part is: This same generation that holds such old-fashioned views is also the generation hitting the streets for climate action on Fridays. The Gen Z protests against the far-right, against racism, for queer rights – they haven't died out. Quite the opposite. But maybe that's exactly the point. We can't make the mistake of painting the whole generation with the same brush. There isn't just one Gen Z. There are young feminists fighting loudly for change – and there are young men who, in an uncertain world, long for clear structures. And this longing for order can sometimes manifest in these kinds of crude ideas. The economic situation, the housing crisis, climate change – all of this creates insecurity. And in that insecurity, some people, unfortunately, fall back on what's supposedly tried and true: the strong man, the obedient woman.

• The Conservative Core: About one-third of young men wish for a return to traditional gender roles.
• The Progressive Vanguard: At the same time, Gen Z is the most diverse and loudest generation in climate and social protests.
• The Silent Majority: The rest are probably just confused, trying to find their own way between TikTok trends and an uncertain future.

The 'Gen Z Stare' and the New Bible

You know that look? That Gen Z Stare that twenty-somethings sometimes give you? Like you're a walking fossil who has no idea how the world works. I used to put it down to youthful arrogance. Now I wonder: Maybe they're partly right. Maybe we really don't understand how they tick. They have their own Gen Z Bible – except it's not bound in leather, but made up of a thousand TikTok videos, Instagram Reels, and Discord chats. Their rules, their morality, their understanding of respect – all of that is being completely redefined right now. That ancient patterns sometimes reappear in this process is something we shouldn't ignore. But we also shouldn't just demonize it. We need to understand it.

What Does This Mean for Canada?

Here in Canada, where the traditional family picture is still pretty diverse and evolving, this development could be particularly interesting. Will Generation Z succeed in this rollback? Or will the loud protests from the other half ultimately set the tone? I'm curious to see. And I'm curious about the next conversation at the local pub. Because one thing's for sure: This generation won't be boring. They're as contradictory and multi-layered as our times. And we should pay close attention – even if that Gen Z Stare stings sometimes.