Beyond Ideology: From Traditional Sexism to Belief in Sexism Shift

Gender has become a central arena of political and cultural change. Alongside feminism’s growing visibility, anti-feminist attitudes have risen, including the belief that men are now the main victims of gender-based discrimination—known as the belief in sexism shift (BSS). Using Spain as a case study and survey-based multivariate analysis, this article tests four models: ideology, traditional sexism, reaction to feminist policies, and misperception of discrimination. Results show that BSS is rooted in right-wing ideology but expanding among younger men, particularly Gen Z, and centrist voters. This expansion marks its transition to a mainstream driver of anti-feminist discourse, reshaping public debates on gender equality.