Feminism Crumbles Among Young People

51.5% of young men consider feminism “a tool for political manipulation and indoctrination.”

More than half of young Spanish men reject feminism, and only four out of ten young people identify with it—the lowest level since 2021. The latest barometer data reveal an ever‑widening gender gap and a worrying shift in direction.

According to the 2025 Youth and Gender Barometer by Fad Juventud, 51.5% of young men view feminism as “a tool for political manipulation and indoctrination,” a figure that has doubled in just five years.

The decline is stark: only 38.4% of 15‑ to 29‑year‑olds describe themselves as feminists, nearly 12 points lower than in 2021, when support peaked. The drop is especially pronounced among young women, whose identification with feminism fell by more than six points in just two years.

A Divided and Polarized Youth

“Almost half of respondents (49.2%) acknowledge that feminism is necessary for real equality.”

Yet that acknowledgment coexists with growing distrust. 45.3% of all young people now see feminism as a political tool, up from 22.1% five years ago.

The gender gap widens: 51.3% of women consider themselves feminists, compared with only 26% of men. While six out of ten young women perceive gender inequalities as “large or very large,” only one in three young men shares that view.

Equality in Rhetoric, Distrust in Substance

The study uncovers a disturbing paradox: although most young people champion equal, co‑responsible, and communicative relationships, discourses that question feminism, downplay inequalities, or doubt the presumption of innocence in gender‑based violence cases are on the rise.

• 67.7% view gender‑based violence as a very serious problem.
• 50% believe men are vulnerable to false accusations, indicating an erosion of the social consensus built over the past decade.

“Contradictory Discourses” and an Alarming Signal

Fad Juventud warns that these findings reflect a youth exposed to opposing, highly polarized messages, shaping their understanding of feminism and equality.

Based on a survey of more than 3,300 respondents, the barometer issues a clear warning: feminism is losing support among young people precisely when inequalities, violence, and gender stereotypes persist—a combination that threatens to become a generational turning point.