Younger generations have always been deemed the most progressive and open-minded in society, and Generation Z initially seemed to follow this trend. From promoting cancel culture, to dismantling views of marriage and gender, Gen Z have been stark advocates for social change. However, this attitude has sparked a cultural backlash—ironically coming from within, and this has been reflected in our politics with the rise of Reform and Trump’s re-election.
Recently, I read about the increasing church attendance which surprisingly Generation Z is at the forefront of. As much as I do not oppose this surge, I cannot help but wonder why this is happening, particularly in correlation with a conservative movement. Young men in particular are the leading group amongst 18–24-year-old church goers and whilst church serves as a space for community and charity, the undertones of conformity and tradition remain.
Values which the younger generation are increasingly showing support for. It therefore does not come as a surprise to hear that Gen Z have some of the biggest gender divides when it comes to social and political beliefs, and it does not take long to notice that certain online trends are reflecting this surge. With Gen Z being one of the first generations to grow up alongside the internet, their attitudes are being shaped by social media.
All you have to do is go on TikTok or Instagram to see the latest trends of “podcast bros” like Joe Rogan and Jordan Peterson to know that young men are not only embracing conservatism but also promoting it. This online sub-culture has started to push men down an “alt-right pipeline”, using echo chambers to promote misogynistic messaging, guised as self-improvement. This drift is often subtle, framed as a reclamation of masculinity, but ultimately pushes a conservative ideology based on traditional ideas of gender, race, and religion.
But this shift cannot only be attributed to men. Recent trends of the “trad wife” and “girl-ification” indicates that even young women are reinforcing gender roles that previously would have been deemed regressive. Women are taking to the internet to voice their desire for a rich man to whisk them out the workplace to become a stay-at-home wife who spends her time tending to her children, rather than working a 9–5 corporate job.
Equally, “girl-math” and “girl-dinner” appear as light-hearted humour but in reality, carry undertones of infantilisation and glorify a lack of agency. Importantly, this nostalgia for traditional roles is often rooted in white-women feminism that overlooks the experience of women of colour who do not share the same history of domestic idealisation. This revival of traditional roles is ultimately reinforcing a conservative worldview.
In the political climate defined by polarization and identity politics, it is no wonder Generation Z are seeking refuge, whether that’s in church, online communities or romanticising domestic roles. These outlets may appear harmless, but beneath the aesthetic of sourdough starters and self-help podcasts lies a deeper ideological shift, one which undermines the progressive movements that Gen Z is often credited with advancing.