40% of men have ‘traditional’ views of the opposite sex, research finds

Of the traditionalist men:

• 52% agreed with the statement, “men who don’t dominate in relationships aren’t real men (52%)”;
• 54% agreed that “a man’s worth is measured by power and control over others”;
• 46% agreed “real men shouldn’t have to care about women’s opinions or feelings”.

The study found 61% of men have low levels of agreement with more traditional views of manhood, such as “men should be the ones to bring money home to provide for their families, not women”, “guys should act strong even if they feel scared or nervous inside”, and “a man who talks a lot about his worries, fears, and problems shouldn’t really get respect”.

It said 39% of men agree or are uncertain about these perceptions and can be classified as “traditionalists”.

Compared to the “moderate” group, traditionalists are more likely to be younger men, with 67% of men aged 18 - 29 holding more traditional views.

The report said in general, young men in Ireland are turning to digital forums, YouTube, and podcasts for information.

When asked what challenges men face, traditionalists cited being the financial provider and difficulty expressing vulnerabilities, while moderates suggested mental health challenges and loneliness.

The survey found that only half of traditionalists agreed that men should be involved in conversations about gender equality.

Finian Murphy, from Core Research, which carried out the study, said: “This research reveals how most men in Ireland have an evolved view of manhood, away from traditional attitudes of strength, stoicism and being the primary provider. However, with 2 in 5 men holding these attitudes... there is a link with attitudes that can be harmful towards women, children, and men themselves.”

Women’s Aid chief executive Sarah Benson cited the “outsized influence of online role models” on younger men.