How far is too far? Post-feminism, conflict, and masculinities in crisis
Author
Hundt, Alice Hoehne
Term
4. semester
Education
Publication year
2026
Submitted on
2026-05-28
Abstract
This thesis builds on recent prevention research showing that misogyny can be an entry point to extremist thinking and violence among youth. It examines Denmark’s post-feminist landscape and the persistence of misogyny, despite the country’s reputation for gender equality. It highlights gender imbalances in education, ongoing intimate partner violence and homicide, and heated post-feminist rhetoric claiming that women’s advances come at men’s expense. To understand how shifts in power between genders relate to hostility and violence, the study explores “status discordance” (a mismatch between expected and actual social status) and draws on feminist theories of intimate partner violence. It also applies the Thucydides’ Trap idea—greater risk of conflict when a rising group challenges an established one—to gender relations. Together, these perspectives help explain post-feminist backlash, hostile sexism, and violence. The empirical analysis uses Danish data on men’s and women’s highest level of education from 1986 to 2025. It finds clear divergence in attainment trends between genders. The thesis argues that these patterns can help reproduce online echo chambers in offline settings, making misogynistic views seem more normal. Interpreted through these theories, the results do not support claims that women’s educational gains have come at the cost of men. Instead, the thesis argues that education statistics are being selectively presented and misread to fuel post-feminist rhetoric consistent with backlash to changing gender power relations.
Dette studie udspringer af nyere forebyggelsesforskning i ungdomsradikalisering, hvor misogyni (kvindehad) i stigende grad ses som en indgang til ekstrem tænkning og vold. Det undersøger Danmarks postfeministiske landskab og den vedvarende misogyni, på trods af landets ry for ligestilling. Det peger på kønsskævheder i uddannelse, vedvarende partnervold og drab samt en skarp postfeministisk retorik, der hævder, at kvinders fremskridt sker på mænds bekostning. For at forstå, hvordan forskydninger i magt mellem kønnene hænger sammen med fjendtlighed og vold, undersøger studiet “statusdiskordans” (uoverensstemmelse mellem forventet og faktisk social status) og trækker på feministiske teorier om partnervold. Det anvender også idéen bag Thukydids-fælden—øget konfliktrisiko, når en opstigende gruppe udfordrer en dominerende—på kønsrelationer. Tilsammen bruges disse perspektiver til at forklare postfeministisk backlash, fjendtlig sexisme og vold. Den empiriske analyse bruger danske data om mænds og kvinders højeste uddannelsesniveau fra 1986 til 2025. Analysen finder tydelige afvigelser i udviklingen mellem kønnene. Studiet argumenterer for, at disse mønstre kan bidrage til, at online ekkokamre reproduceres i offline sammenhænge og gør misogynistiske holdninger mere normale. Konklusionen er, at resultaterne—tolket gennem disse teorier—ikke understøtter påstanden om, at kvinders uddannelsesfremskridt sker på mænds bekostning. I stedet hævder studiet, at uddannelsestal selektivt præsenteres og misfortolkes for at nære postfeministisk retorik som led i et backlash mod skiftende magtforhold mellem kønnene.
[This abstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]
Keywords