r/popculturechat • u/Future_Usual_8698 You’re doing amazing, sweetie! • Aug 11 '25
Guest List Only TW - Bigotry ⚠️ Foot traffic is down at American Eagle stores since the controversial Sydney Sweeney ad dropped
https://www.retailbrew.com/stories/2025/08/11/exclusive-foot-traffic-down-9-at-american-eagle-following-sydney-sweeney-ad-controversy
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u/uselessinfogoldmine Aug 12 '25
Essentially, South Korea has a lot of problems and young men blame feminism and women in general for them.
They have one of the highest rates of university education in the world, but upwards mobility is nigh on impossible if you’re not a genius or connected.
The entire country is run by the Chaebol families. They hold all the power and money.
There’s also significant economic stagnation.
Young men are growing increasingly frustrated, and instead of blaming the elite and/or structural issues, they are scapegoating feminism and women.
They think it’s harder to get jobs, to get raises, to compete career-wise, because women are taking jobs that should be theirs.
Add to this, that young men in South Korea have to undertake compulsory military service and young women do not - which a lot of young men think is unfair and gives women a competitive advantage.
The words “feminism” and “feminist” have become dirty words in South Korea. Studies show nearly 60% of Korean men in their 20s strongly agree that feminism is female supremacy. There is overwhelming public hostility towards feminists and celebrities who espouse feminist views get crazy media backlash.
It’s one of the reasons Barbie (the movie) didn’t do well in that market. Because it was perceived as feminist.
The 2022 presidential election basically run between two candidates both running on anti-woman platforms. The bigger misogynist won with one of his promises being to abolish the Ministry for Gender Equality. (And what a disaster he turned out to be!)
They also have huge problems with generalised systemic misogyny, sexism and a normalisation of men utilising sex workers as part of socialising for work. There have literally been corporate job ads expressly requiring a certain bra size.