One of the defining features of the 21st century may well be the growing polarization that societies—particularly in the West—are experiencing. While this polarization is often framed within the political arena, it extends far beyond, permeating other social domains such as culture, economics, generational divides, and gender dynamics. Concerning the latter, recent years have seen a rise in voices pointing to a widening gender gap, not only in economic terms but also in matters of identity. Increasingly, more men, including those from younger generations, report feeling "socially rejected" simply for being men.


Simultaneously, support for right-wing and far-right ideologies has grown across Western societies. Could these phenomena be interconnected? This article seeks to integrate insights from political science and philosophy within a psychological framework to explore the underlying causes of this social, political, and gender polarization. It examines the decline of male social hegemony as an example of significance loss—an experience that fuels heightened uncertainty and, in turn, drives increased support for conservative and far-right policies, particularly among men.