Survey Reveals Low Global Embrace of Feminism, with Japan and South Korea Leading the Pack in Opposition

Feminism is not as widely embraced on a global scale as one might think. A recent survey conducted by Ipsos in 31 mostly high and upper-middle income countries revealed that only 39 percent of respondents identified as feminists. On the contrary, an average of 51 percent disagreed with being described as feminists. Only two countries, India and Spain, had a majority of respondents agree that they saw themselves as feminists. Even when only considering the responses of women, the number of countries where a majority identified as feminists only increased to seven.

The negative connotations associated with feminism are prevalent in Japan, where only 15 percent of both men and women agreed with the statement. This was highlighted by the fact that 61 percent of respondents overall disagreed with the idea. Similarly, South Korea has faced criticism for its lack of women’s rights and a growing group of men described as anti-feminist or incel. The backlash against feminism in these countries is linked to economic hardships and societal changes that have made life more difficult for males in work and personal relationships. Online spaces have become breeding grounds for incel culture, where frustration with these societal changes is vented.