Traditional gender norms remain strong but younger and more educated groups show signs of change

The latest report in the British Social Attitudes (BSA) series is published today by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen). Analysing data collected on the European Social Survey (ESS), these findings reveal that while traditional gender norms remain influential in Britain, younger generations and those with higher levels of education are adopting more flexible views of their gender identity. These identities in turn shape attitudes towards gender equality and LGBTQ+ rights.

Although most men and women continue to identify strongly with traditional gender identities, just over a third of men (35%) can be described as ‘hyper-masculine’ and a similar proportion of women (36%) as ‘hyper-feminine’. A growing minority, around one in eight of both men and women (13%), identify in less rigid, more androgynous ways.

Gender identity matters most to women

• Two-thirds of women (66%) say being a woman is extremely or very important to how they think of themselves, compared with just over half of men (52%) who feel the same about being a man.

Younger and more educated groups show greater flexibility in their understanding of gender identity.

• Only 30% of men aged under 35 say they feel ‘very masculine’, compared with 41% of older men.
• 35% of younger women describe themselves as ‘very feminine’, compared with 46% of older women.
• Education is a major factor: 44% of men without qualifications feel very masculine, compared with 31% of men with degrees. Similarly, 49% of women without qualifications feel very feminine, compared with 36% of women with degrees.

Attitudes to equality and LGBTQ+ rights are shaped by gender identity

• Hyper-masculine men are less likely (50%) to support equal parental leave than those with androgynous identities (57%), and are also less likely to back fining companies for a gender pay gap (65% vs 81%) or adoption rights for same-sex couples (57% vs 89%). Hyper-feminine women also show lower levels of support for change in some areas, with 56% backing equal parental leave (compared with 61% of all women), and 68% supporting adoption rights for same-sex couples (vs 76% of all women).
• Across all respondents, support for quotas to enforce equal parliamentary representation is relatively low at 40%. This falls to just 31% among hyper-masculine men, while 43% of hyper-feminine women and 42% of those with androgynous identities are in favour.
• By contrast, those with less rigid gender identities are consistently the most supportive of both gender equality and LGBTQ+ rights.

Susan Banducci, report co-author and Professor of Political Science at University of Birmingham, said: “These findings show that traditional gender norms remain deeply embedded in British society, but there are signs of change, especially among younger and more educated groups. Gender identity plays a powerful role in shaping how people view equality and LGBTQ+ rights, suggesting that how society understands masculinity and femininity will continue to influence public attitudes and policy debates for some years to come.”

For more information please contact:

Evie Coffey, Communications Manager, National Centre for Social Research evie.coffey@natcen.ac.uk