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Celerity

(54,496 posts)
Fri Apr 3, 2026, 08:51 AM Friday

Tradwife movement 'attracts men who are hostile to women'


The strongest predictor of support for women staying at home and deferring to their husband is not, as researchers expected, chivalry but ‘hostile sexism’

https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/sex-relationships/article/tradwife-lifestyle-hostility-women-txmdxkjn6

https://archive.ph/vG17p



A growing online trend encourages women to quit their jobs, run the home and defer to their husbands. This “tradwife” movement urges a return to traditional roles and, when researchers in the US recently set out to examine what kind of men support it, they expected to find a cohort fond of old-fashioned chivalry. The reality, they say, was rather different. Among young American men, the strongest predictor of support for the tradwife lifestyle was not gallantry but hostility towards women.



“We were taken aback,” said Dr Rachael Robnett, a psychologist at the University of Nevada, in Las Vegas, and lead author of the study. Her team had thought that men drawn to the tradwife idea would display what academics call “benevolent sexism” — a belief that men should protect and provide for women. This seemed to them to fit with an ethos where he earns and she cooks and cares for the children.

Instead, statistical tests found that the strongest predictor of male support for tradwife lifestyles was “hostile sexism”. This involves overtly negative beliefs about women, including that they manipulate men, exaggerate discrimination and should not expect equal power. People who are high in hostile sexism may believe women try to manipulate and control men, often through sex.

The study, which was published in Psychology of Women Quarterly, also found that men drawn to tradwife ideals often believed that women were essential to their emotional fulfilment, and that intimacy was something only women can provide. “It suggests that men [who support tradwife lifestyles] rely on women for intimacy and resent that this is the case,” Robnett said.


Hannah Neeleman with her family. Tradwives are often depicted online, surrounded by their children

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Tradwife movement 'attracts men who are hostile to women' (Original Post) Celerity Friday OP
The right wing is filled with so many angry weirdos newdeal2 Friday #1
Can many of these guys afford that lifestyle? leftstreet Friday #2
No, they can't afford it, and when they realize it, it's the woman's fault and she better get a job! mucholderthandirt Friday #6
Some do still have jobs, just more ad-hoc or part time EdmondDantes_ Friday #19
I'm confused. Has Robnett's team never been online? EdmondDantes_ Friday #3
I had the same reaction. yardwork Friday #8
Well ... yeah! Scrivener7 Friday #4
Doesn't shock me at all Quiet Em Friday #5
I am trying not to hate Gen Z men. DonCoquixote Friday #7
Lots of Gen Z men are wonderful people. yardwork Friday #9
ok, I get that DonCoquixote Friday #10
I agree that online influence is a problem. yardwork Friday #11
Boomers Hated Gen X??? ProfessorGAC Friday #14
I missed that memo as well ornotna Friday #17
I Think We Need... ProfessorGAC Friday #23
Sorry you're feeling sorry for yourself GenThePerservering Friday #20
File this under "Duh!" n/t intheflow Friday #12
Message auto-removed Name removed Friday #13
now follow the money. mopinko Friday #15
No sane woman drops out of the labor market to be financially dependent on a man. valleyrogue Friday #16
Even the savings on childcare are often overestimated EdmondDantes_ Friday #22
How can anyone justify nine children in this day and age ? These people are in full denial of ... well, everything. nt eppur_se_muova Friday #18
Are we reaching peak male fragility yet? nt GenThePerservering Friday #21

newdeal2

(5,460 posts)
1. The right wing is filled with so many angry weirdos
Fri Apr 3, 2026, 08:57 AM
Friday

This and the whole incel movement among the younger conservatives. And then you have the closeted cases /repressed men which we saw again with Noem’s husband.

leftstreet

(40,881 posts)
2. Can many of these guys afford that lifestyle?
Fri Apr 3, 2026, 09:02 AM
Friday


In these times, the reality is it generally takes 2 incomes to get even close to this "traditional" lifestyle they're jerking off over.

mucholderthandirt

(1,788 posts)
6. No, they can't afford it, and when they realize it, it's the woman's fault and she better get a job!
Fri Apr 3, 2026, 09:08 AM
Friday

And she still has to do all the work, because it's her only usefulness. Until he gets tired of her and starts going after a younger woman he can "mold" and "train" to be better than the current wife.

It's like everything else these morons come up with, improbable, not real, not sustainable. They killed America, at last, wanting to return to mythical ChristianNationLand, with white men in charge and women still property. Well, rich white men, all others need not apply, get to work, serf!

EdmondDantes_

(1,832 posts)
19. Some do still have jobs, just more ad-hoc or part time
Fri Apr 3, 2026, 10:02 AM
Friday

Some are influencers and make money from whatever platforms they are on. Some are simply struggling and don't buy/do anything extra. Some contribute through growing food that isn't providing income but saves money through reducing what the family has to spend. And some of the men work extra jobs because they don't do anything at home so picking up a side job isn't that big of a burden (for them).

EdmondDantes_

(1,832 posts)
3. I'm confused. Has Robnett's team never been online?
Fri Apr 3, 2026, 09:05 AM
Friday

The hostile sexism should have been their initial assumption. It's an offshoot of the red pill movement and that's a misogynistic movement. But good that we know have social science evidence.

DonCoquixote

(13,966 posts)
7. I am trying not to hate Gen Z men.
Fri Apr 3, 2026, 09:11 AM
Friday

Being Gen X. I realize I do not want to sound like a grouchy old man. I remember the way Boomers hated us (and to some extent, still do.) However, when I see Gen Z glorify hatred and oppression of women, it sickens me, especially since their Gen X and Millennials have turned to them and said "you know, conservatives suck, they will use you , abuse you, and lose you.."

Behind every well paid trad wife, casting an illusion, are hundred of women who hate that life, especially as they were forced into it. We all know why they want to ban abortion, because frankly, forced impregnation. including rape, was the only way to force women into that life. As far as Mr. would be trad husband, take a look at how many men get disposed of by the rich. You will find that superman gets shot full pf kryptonite when the boss wants to make more green

yardwork

(69,384 posts)
9. Lots of Gen Z men are wonderful people.
Fri Apr 3, 2026, 09:21 AM
Friday

Don't let headlines about online influencers color your perception of an entire generation.

Plenty of boomers are hateful Trumpsters, but those of us on DU are not.

DonCoquixote

(13,966 posts)
10. ok, I get that
Fri Apr 3, 2026, 09:30 AM
Friday

andI also realize a lot of this is begin done by the gop because they rightly fear a pissed off Gen z that would work with others to give them the rightful heave ho. I am just shocked when I read things by some Gen z and go "really?"

warning the following example of what sticking may off, may offend, but we need to know it is there to stop it

https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/make-me-a-sandwich


yardwork

(69,384 posts)
11. I agree that online influence is a problem.
Fri Apr 3, 2026, 09:34 AM
Friday

It's a problem across the board. Humans are very susceptible to certain types of propaganda. It will get worse.

ProfessorGAC

(76,829 posts)
14. Boomers Hated Gen X???
Fri Apr 3, 2026, 09:42 AM
Friday

I'm a boomer & I must have not gotten that memo.
I truly have no idea as to what you're talking about in that statement.

ProfessorGAC

(76,829 posts)
23. I Think We Need...
Fri Apr 3, 2026, 11:01 AM
Friday

...a better administrative assistant!
It'sall the rage right now to blame the underlings!

GenThePerservering

(3,434 posts)
20. Sorry you're feeling sorry for yourself
Fri Apr 3, 2026, 10:11 AM
Friday

but that's the first I've heard that Boomers hated Gen X - particularly since the two generations are so close that many have friends/relatives/coworkers in common.

Response to Celerity (Original post)

valleyrogue

(2,738 posts)
16. No sane woman drops out of the labor market to be financially dependent on a man.
Fri Apr 3, 2026, 09:51 AM
Friday

The ONLY valid reason for staying at home temporarily is to save on child care costs. Women who do this are literally unemployed--not workers but dependents--and are treated as such by law and by employers. There is no point women getting all defensive about this and claiming they are doing "unpaid labor" and think they should be compensated when everybody does the same thing regardless if they are employed.

The "tradwives" the media brag about are not "traditional" at all--they are self-employed, often making big bucks, as content creators or "influencers." Not the same thing as so many women were saddled with in the 1950s through the early 1970s.

Besides, the "housewife" or "homemaker" was an aberration and anything but "traditional."

EdmondDantes_

(1,832 posts)
22. Even the savings on childcare are often overestimated
Fri Apr 3, 2026, 10:18 AM
Friday

The stay at home parent isn't just losing out on the income, but raises, promotions, and retirement savings that all add up kind of out of sight.

eppur_se_muova

(41,989 posts)
18. How can anyone justify nine children in this day and age ? These people are in full denial of ... well, everything. nt
Fri Apr 3, 2026, 10:01 AM
Friday
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