The feminist movement of 2025 has moved far beyond the classic gender‑equality agenda. It now embraces intersectionality, weaving race, class, sexuality, and disability into a single framework that recognizes how overlapping identities shape oppression. Digital platforms like TikTok, Instagram and X are the primary arenas where this expanded feminism is debated and amplified by Gen Z’s relentless online presence. However, this digital engagement has also exposed a growing paradox: while today’s feminism strives for inclusivity, it increasingly faces polarization and resistance, especially among young men. This article explores how contemporary feminism navigates this tension between inclusivity and division in the digital age.
From property rights to intersectionality
Feminism has evolved through several distinct waves, each emerging in response to the prevailing social, political and cultural contexts of its time. The First Wave, spanning the late 19th to early 20th century, centered on the recognition of women as autonomous human beings rather than property. This period saw significant legal victories, such as women securing the right to vote and gaining greater control over their own property and finances, including the ability to open bank accounts in their own names.
Second Wave feminism, emerging in the 1960s and lasting through the 1980s, introduced deep discussion about the nature of gender and patriarchal structures. Three main streams emerged: liberal feminism, focusing on institutional change; radical feminism, aiming to dismantle patriarchal structures and cultural feminism, which emphasized a “female essence” distinct from men. This wave was fueled by broader social movements, including civil rights activism, postwar economic changes and growing awareness of gender inequalities in both public and private life.
The Third Wave, taking shape in the 1990s and 2000s, broadened the movement, becoming significantly more inclusive of women and girls of color. It was here that intersectionality, a concept developed by legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw, gained prominence, emphasizing how overlapping identities like race, class and gender create unique experiences of discrimination. This wave arose partly as a response to the limitations of Second Wave feminism, which often centered on the experiences of middle-class white women and sought to account for diverse and intersecting social identities.
The Fourth Wave, beginning in the 2010s and continuing today, is characterized by its engagement with digital activism and its focus on issues such as sexual harassment, body image, and rape culture. This wave gained momentum through movements like the Women’s March and the impactful #MeToo movement, which brought global attention to systemic abuse. The rise of social media allowed marginalized voices to mobilize rapidly, creating online spaces for collective action and amplifying the visibility of feminist campaigns worldwide.
In essence, feminism has evolved from a concentrated focus on securing fundamental legal and political rights in the First Wave to an expansive, globally connected movement that addresses deeply embedded cultural, systemic and intersecting inequalities today.
The paradox matters
Because of the digitalization of contemporary feminism, the movement faces a significant paradox: its rapid expansion and increased visibility online have coincided with the rise of a strong anti-feminist backlash. While feminism aspires to inclusivity and the formation of broad social alliances, certain groups, particularly young men, report feelings of exclusion or perceived threat. The anti-feminist sentiment among young men, initially noted in Europe, is equally significant in the United States, where nearly half of Gen Z men now report feeling that men face gender-based discrimination. While this backlash is most acute in Western democracies, a reaction to visible feminist success and shifting economic roles, it is not limited to the West. Instead, the phenomenon is becoming increasingly globalized, as digital forums like the "manosphere" export anti-feminist rhetoric, intersecting with and amplifying local, often politically and religiously motivated, traditionalist movements worldwide.
Research by the European Sociological Review suggests that these perceived threats are not only economic, such as competition in the labor market and challenges to traditional male-dominated career paths, but also social and cultural, including fears of losing status, authority, or recognition in shifting gender norms. The study found that young men were most likely to agree that "promoting women's and girls' rights has gone too far because it threatens men's and boys' opportunities". Consequently, men aged 18 to 29 increasingly interpret progress in women’s rights as diminishing their own prospects for success and social belonging.
This perception manifests prominently in digital environments. A report by LLYC found that nearly half of all posts concerning feminism on platform X carry negative sentiment, frequently associated with anti-equality or anti-feminist discourses. Complementary research from King’s College London suggests that online algorithms exacerbate these divisions, contributing to a widening gender polarization among youth.
Algorithms of anti-equality
The manosphere, an online network of communities promoting male dominance, has surged as young men experience economic precarity, status anxiety and algorithmic reinforcement of gendered content. The manosphere frequently condones or even encourages violence against women and LGBTQ+ people. Figures like Andrew Tate (former kick‑boxer and influencer) epitomize this trend; his statements (“women belong to the man”) and (“any man who has sex with women because it ‘feels good’ is gay,”) normalize misogyny and attract men seeking clear, assertive identities. Exposure is high: >50 % of men aged 18‑29 report regular contact with misogynistic content, 35 % say it influences them, and 31 % view Tate as a role model. TikTok is the most problematic platform, with 70% of respondents encountering such material.
This trend extends beyond social media personalities to political discourse: 61% of Gen Z attribute the rise in misogynistic language to political leaders, with women most frequently naming Donald Trump as key sources. The Gender Equality Index confirms that these dynamics contribute to the normalization of physical and emotional violence among young men in Europe, reflecting persistent structural inequalities.
These feelings of threat and exclusion can drive some young men toward figures like Andrew Tate, who offer a clear, assertive male identity and validation for their frustrations. Digital platforms amplify this effect, creating echo chambers where anti-feminist ideologies are normalized and emotional support is tied to these narratives, as illustrated in the film Adolescence. In this way, the appeal of such figures stems not only from ideology but also from a desire for belonging, recognition, and empowerment in a changing social landscape.
The power of online feminism
At the same time, digital platforms, Instagram, TikTok, and X, enable micro-activism (shares, stories, hashtags) that amplify marginalized voices. One notable example is Marley Dias, an American youth activist and founder of the #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign, who uses social media to advocate for diversity in literature and education. Reports by the United Nations Girl’s Education Initiative (UNGEI) and the Global Philanthropy Project show that young activists increasingly use digital tools to push for intersectional justice, often combining feminism with LGBTQ+ and racial equality campaigns. Research also shows that online feminist communities form clusters of like-minded youth, which can empower them.
This was powerfully illustrated by the Dutch national movement “Wij eisen de nacht op” (“We Reclaim the Night”) in 2025 after a series of femicides and widespread violence against women. The movement used social media platforms to quickly and widely share information, coordinate large-scale physical demonstrations, and organize successful viral crowdfunding campaigns to fund their efforts. It seamlessly connected viral crowdfunding with mass, offline action, bridging the digital and physical spheres in the fight for gender equality.
The future of male allyship
To all men who don’t feel represented by online misogynist rhetoric and actively seek positive change: I see you. It is crucial to separate extreme misogynist rhetoric from the broader issue of male disengagement. While the manosphere fuels hostility, many men remain silent or indifferent due to cultural constraints and lack of ally‑training. Research highlights multiple barriers to male participation in gender equality work, including limited opportunities, cultural constraints, and insufficient institutional support. Initiatives like #EchtMannelijk (#Truly Masculine) provide education and safe spaces for men to recognize and confront sexism, demonstrating that allyship is possible when structural barriers are addressed. Male allies who adopt an intersectional lens can help bridge divides. By supporting campaigns that address gender, race, class and disability simultaneously, men model shared responsibility and counteract polarization.
The next phase of feminism
Feminism in 2025 is a dynamic, digital‑first movement that must confront its paradox: greater inclusivity coexists with heightened backlash. Understanding these complexities is crucial, but awareness alone is insufficient. Meaningful progress requires action, both online and offline.
Speak up in conversations, amplify the voices of marginalized communities, challenge stereotypes, and hold institutions accountable. Support campaigns, participate in community projects, or organize local initiatives. Even small actions matter: calling out sexism, sharing educational resources, or mentoring young activists create ripple effects.
In 2025, feminism needs active support from all of us: women and men. By turning knowledge into action, we can bridge divides, empower all voices, and work toward a society where equality is not optional but fundamental. The moment to act is now, and every contribution counts. Let’s make equality fundamental. Shall we?
This article is part of The Outside World, ftrprf’s very own research center.
For organizations, it’s pivotal to thoroughly understand what is happening in society. We help companies generate comprehensive insights into societal change and its potential effects on their strategy and operations, both negative and positive. With actionable societal insights, courageous plans, and a can-do mentality, we connect the outside world to your company's strategy. For these outside-world insights, we use a rigorous methodology that includes data processing, quantitative and qualitative analysis, and a thorough review process to ensure the accuracy and consistency of our findings.
For more information, please contact theoutsideworld@ftrprf.com.