Barcelona – The landscape of feminism in Spain is experiencing a significant shift, particularly among the younger generation. A recent report from the Fad Youth Foundation’s Youth and Gender Barometer highlights a concerning trend: over half of young Spanish men (51.5%) perceive feminism as merely a political tool used for manipulation and indoctrination. This reflects a retreat from the fervor that characterized the Me Too movement and the massive demonstrations marking feminism’s fourth wave nearly a decade ago. Today, those aged 15 to 29 are identifying as less feminist than their older peers.
Ideas About Feminism
The Barometer reveals a staggering drop in the percentage of young individuals who self-identify as feminists. In 2025, that number is expected to plummet to 38.4%, a sharp decline from the all-time high of 48.9% recorded in 2021. Since the Barometer’s inception in 2018, the identification as feminists has dropped from 42% in 2018 to just 30% in 2023. Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that half of the respondents still agree on the importance of achieving “real equality.”
This paradox signals what the study’s authors describe as a “coexistence, adherence, and distrust” towards the feminist movement. It exposes the complexities and tensions within society regarding gender equality. Among the overall population, 42% self-identify as feminists, with the highest rates observed in individuals in their 30s, at 52%. Notably, perceptions of inequality differ significantly between genders: while 62% of women recognize substantial disparities, only 37% of men share that same perspective. In workplaces, one-third of respondents claimed there is no wage gap, reflecting a troubling lack of awareness regarding existing structural inequalities. Conducted through over 3,000 interviews—half with young people aged 15-29—the Barometer explores the evolution of relationships, gender-based inequalities, and incidents of violence over the past decade. Anna Sanmartín, the research director at Fad, noted that the diminishing identification with feminism among youth can partly be attributed to boys feeling “disadvantaged” in comparison to girls, along with a growing perception that the fight for equality seems unattainable.
Control in the Couple and Stereotypes
Gender stereotypes continue to exert a powerful influence on young people’s lives, particularly affecting boys. The pressure on women is multifaceted: they feel compelled to conform to societal standards regarding their appearance, manage household chores, maintain romantic relationships, and achieve academic success. In contrast, boys feel pressured to embody traits of leadership, achieve sexual conquests, and fulfill financial responsibilities.
The study also sheds light on dynamics within relationships and the prevalence of controlling behaviors. While a significant majority values personal autonomy, responsibility, and respect, many have internalized the notion of being controlled by their partners. The findings are alarming: 32% of young women reported that their partner has expressed anger if they didn’t respond to calls or texts immediately, compared to 17.5% of men. Additionally, 27% of women indicated that their phones have been checked by their partners, while 17% of boys reported the same. Astrikingly, 26.6% of girls said they have experienced restrictions regarding who they could or couldn’t talk to, a sentiment resonated by 17% of boys. Furthermore, nearly half of the participants view relationships as requiring absolute commitment, with an increase of 20 percentage points in this belief since 2017, signaling a growing tolerance for controlling behaviors compared to previous generations.
Intriguingly, 27.2% of respondents still believe that fields like research and science are more suitable for men, with 36% to 45% associating certain sectors, such as computer science and engineering, primarily with men. At home, while 56.2% claim an equal distribution of domestic responsibilities, when imbalances are present, 38.5% admit that household tasks disproportionately fall upon women, with only 2.3% attributing this burden primarily to men. This data underscores not only the persistence of gender norms but also the complexities surrounding the conversation about equality among the youth in Spain.
