Economic insecurity and gender equality appear closely linked among young men in the Nordic countries, according to a new regional study that finds more sceptical attitudes towards equality among men who feel financially insecure.
The State of Nordic Men 2026 report, produced by Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice for the Nordic Council of Ministers, is based on responses from 4,547 women and men aged 18 to 45 in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
Among men aged 18 to 24, one in three questions whether men and women should be treated equally, according to the study. Men who report greater economic insecurity are also more likely to support restrictive ideas about masculinity, leadership, family roles and sexuality.
The survey shows an association rather than establishing that financial insecurity causes these attitudes.
Economic insecurity and gender equality are closely connected
Economic insecurity emerges as one of the recurring factors across the report, which examines attitudes towards equality alongside mental health, relationships and trust in society.
According to the Nordic Council of Ministers’ presentation of the findings, men who feel financially insecure are significantly more likely to agree with what researchers describe as the “Man Box”, a set of more rigid expectations surrounding masculinity.
The difference is also visible in attitudes towards gender equality. Men who feel economically secure are less likely to support restrictive gender norms and more likely to oppose gender-related harassment and abuse.
Housing is part of that wider economic anxiety. Among people aged 18 to 24, around one in three say they do not believe they will be able to save enough to own a home in the future, Aftenposten reported.
Equimundo researcher Chloé Lewis said economic insecurity repeatedly appeared alongside attitudes and well-being across the study.
“Whether the question concerns views on gender equality, mental health, relationships or trust in society, we see economic insecurity as a crucial factor.”
More than half have encountered misogynistic content online
The report also looks at the digital environment in which attitudes towards gender are developing.
More than half of the men surveyed said they had encountered misogynistic content on social media during the previous month. A majority of respondents also believe social media platforms deliberately pit women and men against each other.
Among economically insecure young men, researchers also found lower levels of trust in politicians. One in five reported following figures including Andrew Tate, Elon Musk and Donald Trump on social media, according to Aftenposten.
The findings connect several issues that are often discussed separately in Nordic politics: housing affordability, economic security, political trust, online environments and gender equality.
Most Nordic men still associate masculinity with care
The wider picture presented by the study is not one of a general rejection of gender equality among Nordic men.
Instead, friendship and care remain central to how masculinity is understood across the region. Around 84% of men and 89% of women surveyed said being a good friend was an important characteristic of being a man, while 80% of both men and women associated masculinity with caring for others.
At the same time, more traditional expectations remain widespread. More than 80% of men and 70% of women still consider being the family provider an important part of masculinity.
The result is a more complex generational picture: Nordic societies continue to show strong support for caring and relational models of masculinity, while a group of younger men experiencing economic insecurity also shows greater openness to restrictive gender norms and scepticism towards equality.
The report points to economic policy as part of equality policy
The researchers argue that policies aimed at men and gender equality should therefore extend beyond changing attitudes alone.
Their recommendations include creating safer digital environments, strengthening friendships and local communities, supporting fathers, investing in public services and reducing economic insecurity.
Equimundo president and CEO Gary Barker said economic security and mental health should be considered part of the region’s equality agenda.
“Investing in men’s economic security and mental health is not a departure from gender equality work, but part of the work that remains to be done.”
The report gives Nordic policymakers a common dataset for examining how economic pressures, digital life and changing expectations of masculinity interact. It also suggests that debates about young men’s attitudes towards equality cannot easily be separated from their expectations about housing, financial stability and their future place in society.
