{"id":{"repo_id":"vt","oai_identifier":"oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/102110"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/vt/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/102110","repository":{"repo_id":"vt","name":"Virginia Tech","base_url":"https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Millennials and Generation Z: Men's Perspectives on Hashtag Feminism","abstract":"As the U.S. experiences widespread critical examination on gender and patriarchy, it is important for family therapists to learn how men perceive their masculinity amidst this critical discourse. In contemporary politics, feminist activism is largely conducted through social media and hashtag activism and is often called \"hashtag feminism.\" The feminist hashtags #MeToo, #HeForShe, and #HowIWillChange are well-known symbols of the modern feminist movement. Despite the large role that men and masculinity play in the construction of patriarchy, there is currently little research on how hashtag feminism influences men's perceptions of their own role in gender politics. This interpretive phenomenological study explored how Millennial and Generation Z men perceive the hashtag feminist movement. It also aimed to capture how these men experienced and perceived their masculinity as it related to contemporary gender politics. We conducted interviews with 12 social media-using Millennial and Generation Z men about their experiences of masculinity and hashtag feminism. We found that men's views on hashtag feminism and gender inequality were contradictory and overlapping, changing in response to different contexts. Additionally, findings indicated that participants did not see hashtag feminism as representative of the feminist movement as a whole. Results suggested that features of online activist discourse deterred men from engaging in hashtag feminism. Lastly, results suggested that Millennial and Generation Z men want cultural norms of masculinity to change to integrate the pro-social aspects of traditional masculinity with non-traditional qualities of empathy, emotionality, relationality, and vulnerability. Study discussion reviews clinical implications and research recommendations.","abstract_html":"As the U.S. experiences widespread critical examination on gender and patriarchy, it is important for family therapists to learn how men perceive their masculinity amidst this critical discourse. In contemporary politics, feminist activism is largely conducted through social media and hashtag activism and is often called "hashtag feminism." The feminist hashtags #MeToo, #HeForShe, and #HowIWillChange are well-known symbols of the modern feminist movement. Despite the large role that men and masculinity play in the construction of patriarchy, there is currently little research on how hashtag feminism influences men's perceptions of their own role in gender politics. This interpretive phenomenological study explored how Millennial and Generation Z men perceive the hashtag feminist movement. It also aimed to capture how these men experienced and perceived their masculinity as it related to contemporary gender politics. We conducted interviews with 12 social media-using Millennial and Generation Z men about their experiences of masculinity and hashtag feminism. We found that men's views on hashtag feminism and gender inequality were contradictory and overlapping, changing in response to different contexts. Additionally, findings indicated that participants did not see hashtag feminism as representative of the feminist movement as a whole. Results suggested that features of online activist discourse deterred men from engaging in hashtag feminism. Lastly, results suggested that Millennial and Generation Z men want cultural norms of masculinity to change to integrate the pro-social aspects of traditional masculinity with non-traditional qualities of empathy, emotionality, relationality, and vulnerability. Study discussion reviews clinical implications and research recommendations.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Kosar, Sophia Anneliese"],"institution":"Virginia Tech","degree_name":"Master of Science","degree_level":"masters","degree_discipline":"Human Development","degree_department":"Adult Learning and Human Resource Development","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":["Muruthi, Bertranna Alero"],"committee_members":["Cunanan-Petty, Elnora Danao","Shivers, Carolyn"],"year":2021,"date_issued":"2021-01-27","date_published":"2021-01-27","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:20:40Z","subjects":["men","masculinity","social media","feminism","social justice","hashtag feminism"],"languages":[],"rights":["In Copyright"],"rights_urls":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["vt_gsexam:29155"],"render_values":[{"text":"vt_gsexam:29155","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/10919/102110","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.committeechair","label":"Committee Chair","values":["Muruthi, Bertranna Alero"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.committeemember","label":"Committee Member","values":["Cunanan-Petty, Elnora Danao","Shivers, Carolyn"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.department","label":"Department","values":["Adult Learning and Human Resource Development"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Kosar, Sophia Anneliese"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2021-01-28T09:00:28Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2021-01-28T09:00:28Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2021-01-27"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Virginia Tech"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Human Development"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["masters"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["men","masculinity","social media","feminism","social justice","hashtag feminism"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["In Copyright"]},{"key":"dc:rights.uri","label":"Rights URI","values":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["vt_gsexam:29155"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/10919/102110"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["As the U.S. experiences widespread critical examination on gender and patriarchy, it is important for family therapists to learn how men perceive their masculinity amidst this critical discourse. In contemporary politics, feminist activism is largely conducted through social media and hashtag activism and is often called \"hashtag feminism.\" The feminist hashtags #MeToo, #HeForShe, and #HowIWillChange are well-known symbols of the modern feminist movement. Despite the large role that men and masculinity play in the construction of patriarchy, there is currently little research on how hashtag feminism influences men's perceptions of their own role in gender politics. This interpretive phenomenological study explored how Millennial and Generation Z men perceive the hashtag feminist movement. It also aimed to capture how these men experienced and perceived their masculinity as it related to contemporary gender politics. We conducted interviews with 12 social media-using Millennial and Generation Z men about their experiences of masculinity and hashtag feminism. We found that men's views on hashtag feminism and gender inequality were contradictory and overlapping, changing in response to different contexts. Additionally, findings indicated that participants did not see hashtag feminism as representative of the feminist movement as a whole. Results suggested that features of online activist discourse deterred men from engaging in hashtag feminism. Lastly, results suggested that Millennial and Generation Z men want cultural norms of masculinity to change to integrate the pro-social aspects of traditional masculinity with non-traditional qualities of empathy, emotionality, relationality, and vulnerability. Study discussion reviews clinical implications and research recommendations."]},{"key":"dc:description.abstractgeneral","label":"General Abstract","values":["Gender and patriarchy are undergoing critical examination the United States. In this context it is important for family therapists to learn how men experience masculinity. \"Hashtag activism,\" or online feminist activism, uses social media to engage in feminist discourse. The feminist hashtags #MeToo, #HeForShe, and #HowIWillChange are well-known symbols of the modern feminist movement. Despite the large role men and masculinity play in patriarchy, there is little research about how hashtag feminism impacts men. However, it is important to gain an understanding of how men see their own role in gender politics. This interpretive phenomenological study explored how Millennial and Generation Z men perceive the hashtag feminist movement. It also aimed learn about how these men experienced and understood their masculinity in the context of contemporary gender politics. We conducted in-depth interviews with 12 Millennial and Generation Z men who use social media. Interview questions were about their experiences of masculinity and hashtag feminism. We found that men's views on hashtag feminism and gender inequality were not divided into separate categories of pro-feminist and anti-feminist. Instead, each participant held multiple viewpoints that overlapped and sometimes contracted each other. These viewpoints depended on the context in which the participant found himself. We also found that participants did not see hashtag feminism as representative of the feminist movement overall. Results suggested that men were disinclined to engage in hashtag activism because of unique features of online activism. Finally, we found that participants wanted masculinity norms to change to include more vulnerable, emotional, and relational qualities. We discussed clinical implications and research recommendations for family therapists."]},{"key":"dc:description.degree","label":"Dc Description Degree","values":["Master of Science"]},{"key":"dc:format.medium","label":"Dc Format Medium","values":["ETD"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Millennials and Generation Z: Men's Perspectives on Hashtag Feminism"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.committeechair":["Muruthi, Bertranna Alero"],"dc:contributor.committeemember":["Cunanan-Petty, Elnora Danao","Shivers, Carolyn"],"dc:contributor.department":["Adult Learning and Human Resource Development"],"dc:creator":["Kosar, Sophia Anneliese"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2021-01-28T09:00:28Z"],"dc:date.available":["2021-01-28T09:00:28Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2021-01-27"],"dc:description.abstract":["As the U.S. experiences widespread critical examination on gender and patriarchy, it is important for family therapists to learn how men perceive their masculinity amidst this critical discourse. In contemporary politics, feminist activism is largely conducted through social media and hashtag activism and is often called \"hashtag feminism.\" The feminist hashtags #MeToo, #HeForShe, and #HowIWillChange are well-known symbols of the modern feminist movement. Despite the large role that men and masculinity play in the construction of patriarchy, there is currently little research on how hashtag feminism influences men's perceptions of their own role in gender politics. This interpretive phenomenological study explored how Millennial and Generation Z men perceive the hashtag feminist movement. It also aimed to capture how these men experienced and perceived their masculinity as it related to contemporary gender politics. We conducted interviews with 12 social media-using Millennial and Generation Z men about their experiences of masculinity and hashtag feminism. We found that men's views on hashtag feminism and gender inequality were contradictory and overlapping, changing in response to different contexts. Additionally, findings indicated that participants did not see hashtag feminism as representative of the feminist movement as a whole. Results suggested that features of online activist discourse deterred men from engaging in hashtag feminism. Lastly, results suggested that Millennial and Generation Z men want cultural norms of masculinity to change to integrate the pro-social aspects of traditional masculinity with non-traditional qualities of empathy, emotionality, relationality, and vulnerability. Study discussion reviews clinical implications and research recommendations."],"dc:description.abstractgeneral":["Gender and patriarchy are undergoing critical examination the United States. In this context it is important for family therapists to learn how men experience masculinity. \"Hashtag activism,\" or online feminist activism, uses social media to engage in feminist discourse. The feminist hashtags #MeToo, #HeForShe, and #HowIWillChange are well-known symbols of the modern feminist movement. Despite the large role men and masculinity play in patriarchy, there is little research about how hashtag feminism impacts men. However, it is important to gain an understanding of how men see their own role in gender politics. This interpretive phenomenological study explored how Millennial and Generation Z men perceive the hashtag feminist movement. It also aimed learn about how these men experienced and understood their masculinity in the context of contemporary gender politics. We conducted in-depth interviews with 12 Millennial and Generation Z men who use social media. Interview questions were about their experiences of masculinity and hashtag feminism. We found that men's views on hashtag feminism and gender inequality were not divided into separate categories of pro-feminist and anti-feminist. Instead, each participant held multiple viewpoints that overlapped and sometimes contracted each other. These viewpoints depended on the context in which the participant found himself. We also found that participants did not see hashtag feminism as representative of the feminist movement overall. Results suggested that men were disinclined to engage in hashtag activism because of unique features of online activism. Finally, we found that participants wanted masculinity norms to change to include more vulnerable, emotional, and relational qualities. We discussed clinical implications and research recommendations for family therapists."],"dc:description.degree":["Master of Science"],"dc:format.medium":["ETD"],"dc:identifier.other":["vt_gsexam:29155"],"dc:identifier.uri":["http://hdl.handle.net/10919/102110"],"dc:publisher":["Virginia Tech"],"dc:rights":["In Copyright"],"dc:rights.uri":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"dc:subject":["men","masculinity","social media","feminism","social justice","hashtag feminism"],"dc:title":["Millennials and Generation Z: Men's Perspectives on Hashtag Feminism"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Human Development"],"thesis:degree_level":["masters"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science"],"thesis:institution_name":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:20:40Z"}