A third of boys think women’s rights are unimportant, new report finds
Boys in the UK struggling to define what masculinity means in today’s world
A new report by Male Allies UK has revealed that a third of boys think women’s rights are unimportant and that many are turning to artificial intelligence for emotional support, friendship, and even relationships.
The Boys In Schools report, which surveyed over 1,000 boys aged 11 to 15 across 37 British schools, found that boys are increasingly reliant on digital communication and struggling to define what masculinity means in today’s world.
Over half of those surveyed (53%) said they find the online world more rewarding than real life, while a similar number (54%) said the real world feels more interesting, suggesting a tension between wanting real-world connection and finding it easier to exist online. Some said they spend more time online because it feels safer and less intimidating than going out.
As The Independent reports, many boys are also turning to chatbots for companionship and emotional support. One boy said, “I have AI friends and girlfriends, they are always there when you feel bored,” while another explained, “I talk to an AI app, it makes me feel like I’m not on my own.”
But the same online spaces that comfort them are also sowing mistrust and confusion. The report found that boys are split between believing “everything online is fake” and viewing certain sexist voices as part of a “new system” that reflects truth. A vast majority (82%) said they don’t trust UK politicians either.
When it comes to gender equality, opinions were equally mixed. While most boys said women’s rights are important (45%) or very important (23%), nearly a third (32%) said they’re not. And though 58% believe feminism has made the UK a better place, over half (54%) think boys have it harder than girls today. Some said they feel that girls are celebrated while boys are “seen as part of the problem”.
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The majority of boys (79%) also said it isn’t clear to them what masculinity means. As one put it, “People always say what it shouldn’t be, but don’t say what it is”. Another added, “It’s toxic, that’s all I ever hear.”
Lee Chambers, founder and CEO of Male Allies UK, said the findings show that boys are growing up in a confusing and divided world. “A lack of guidance and trusted information means many are struggling to process the views they see every day, which is splitting opinion on some important subjects,” he told The Independent.
He went on to say this moment should serve as a wake-up call. “We have an opportunity to help boys navigate digital connections in a safe and supportive way, but we need to listen to them,” Lee Chambers said. “We want boys to grow up appreciating the importance of feminism and allyship, but we can’t achieve that by telling them; we need to help them shape it alongside us.”
As conversations around toxic masculinity and the influence of figures like Andrew Tate continue, the report is a reminder that young boys are listening, they need safe spaces, guidance and empathy to make sense of what they hear.
