engagement, identification and perceived relevance. Women often express strong identification with feminist ideas, seeing them as both a political framework and a source of personal validation, whereas men tend to engage more cautiously, sometimes distancing themselves from forms of feminism perceived as“extreme” or overly politicised. In Sweden and Germany, participants generally expressed stronger support for gender equality than for feminism. Some Swedish male participants, in particular, viewed feminism as controversial or primarily a political ideology rather than a set of practical values. This perception was less common among German participants; in Spain, particularly men criticised perceived feminist hypocrisy and policy failures, such as the early release of convicted rapists as a result of the removal of the distinction between sexual abuse and sexual aggression by the “only yes means yes” law; in Greece, a clear gender divide emerged, with men in particular stating that feminism is no longer needed; and in Poland, many women support changes that promote gender equality, but they often have a negative reaction to the word“feminism”. This is because public debates and media frequently link feminism with. 56 3.5.1 Minimal agreement on the principles of feminism(not the term itself) Across all groups, feminism and gender equality are not strongly differentiated in terms of their substantive goals, which are regarded as equality of opportunity, dignity and participation for women. There is a fundamental acceptance of these goals as normative social standards. Most participants have a liberal approach that accepts different lifestyles and emphasises freedom of choice. In this framework, gender equality is seen less as a political struggle and more as a fundamental moral requirement. Open rejection is largely absent, and explicit opposition is rarely articulated. As Dimitris(male, 27, Athens, mixed group) reflects, “I fully agree with equality. It’s just that equality nowadays has changed a bit and has become all about percentages 50-50, 50% representation, equal representation in everything. That’s why I think it’s utopian. Because people, precisely because they are equal and have equal rights, are not identical in their preferences and their skills.“ Similarly, Jessica(female, 25, Berlin, mixed group) emphasises personal freedom and choice: “I think everyone should just do what they want. There are women who want to be housewives, and they should be able to do that. And if the man brings home the money, that’s fine too. And if a woman wants to work, then she wants to work and should do so, and the man can stay at home. Everyone should decide for themselves.“ These reflections illustrate how young people interpret gender equality primarily in terms of individual autonomy and practical flexibility rather than as a strictly political struggle. Reservations about particular aspects of gender­equality policies or feminist positions are only expressed cautiously and remain weakly defended when challenged by other participants. Where views clash, proponents of feminism, mostly women, but also progressive-leaning men, tend to prevail in the discussion, leveraging detailed knowledge and personal experience. At the same time, they remain receptive to counterarguments rooted in personal perspective, allowing for engagement without dismissiveness. Their well-grounded convictions enable them to respond confidently to criticism, reinforcing supportive interpretations and shaping the group’s overall understanding. Controversial debates seldom intensify, as dissenting views are often softened, reformulated or abandoned in response to group dynamics. This tendency could be attributed to the participants’ strategic avoidance of conflict, their active persuasion by the other party or the absence of strong feelings regarding the topic. EqualiZe 69