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Symposium on Young American Men

Connection · 2026 survey

Authority Figures

Think about the people who have held authority over you across your whole life so far, at home, in school, in sports, and at work. Have those people been mostly men, mostly women, or an even mix?

50% of young men say the people with authority over them have been an even mix of men and women. 27% say mostly men.

The split

27% Mostly menMostly women 16.2%
  • Almost all men 6.4%
  • Mostly men 20.6%
  • An even mix of men and women 50.2%
  • Unsure 6.6%
  • Mostly women 12.3%
  • Almost all women 3.9%

Topline, all respondents

  • Almost all men6.4%
  • Mostly men20.6%
  • An even mix of men and women50.2%
  • Mostly women12.3%
  • Almost all women3.9%
  • Unsure6.6%

Most common answer

An even mix of men and women

Share

50.2%

Respondents

800 registered voters, men aged 18 to 30

The numbers

Think about the people who have held authority over you across your whole life so far, at home, in school, in sports, and at work. Have those people been mostly men, mostly women, or an even mix?
ResponsePercent
Almost all men6.4
Mostly men20.6
An even mix of men and women50.2
Mostly women12.3
Almost all women3.9
Unsure6.6

Embed

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Preview

Citation

The Lafayette Company, Young American Men Survey 2026, “Think about the people who have held authority over you across your whole life so far, at home, in school, in sports, and at work. Have those people been mostly men, mostly women, or an even mix?”. 800 registered voters, men aged 18 to 30, fielded by Cygnal, September 15–18, 2026, margin of error ±3.46%. youngamericanmen.com/data/2026/authority-figures

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