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How Young People Feel About Gender in the U.K., France, Germany, Spain, and Italy

While traditional gender roles are trending, young Europeans aren’t buying into them—at least not everywhere…

Written and Edited by the YPulse Editorial Team

Oct 8 2025
Western Europe

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Youth in Italy, Spain, and France lean more progressive about gender roles, while those in the U.K. and Germany lean more traditional
Young people in both North America and Western Europe are questioning old norms
European Gen Z wants to see gender expressed as a spectrum, not a box, by brands

The rise of trad wives and alpha male influencers represents a growing fascination with traditional and glamorised gender roles—oddly popularized by Gen Z on TikTok. Whether it’s for the aesthetics or the cooking tips (and we’ll get into exactly what the appeal is), the trad wife phenomenon has taken over socials. Influencers like Nara Smith, Hannah Neeleman, and Estee Williams are just a few showcasing ultra-aesthetic content that romanticises femininity and domesticity. And while they are American examples, the movement is beginning to show up in Europe, with a few smaller influencers gaining traction, too. These include “antifeminist militant” Thais...