Podcast: How Feminism Failed Women (and Men) with Carrie Gress

The Real Impact of Feminism on Marriage, Men, and Modern Relationships (with Carrie Gress)

Podcast Interview with Carrie Gress

Listen To the ‘Love & Cherish’ Podcast

The Truth About Feminism

Feminism is widely seen as a force for good. Most people believe it brought fairness, opportunity, and freedom for women, and that we are all better off because of it.

But what if that is only part of the story?

In my conversation with philosopher and author Carrie Gress, we explored a more uncomfortable question. What has feminism actually done to relationships between men and women, and what are we now seeing play out in real life?

Because from where I sit, working with couples every day, something is not right.

The Growing Divide Between Men and Women in Modern Relationships

One of the most striking patterns I see is a breakdown in trust.

Young men do not trust women. They do not understand them, and they do not know how to relate to them.

And young women feel the same.

They are unsure of men, cautious of them, sometimes fearful of them, and often deeply confused about what they are supposed to want from relationships.

This is not a small problem.

It is showing up in serious ways, including rising mental health struggles in women and persistently high suicide rates in men. And when men and women cannot trust each other, it raises an obvious question.

What happens to relationships, and what happens to families?

The Impact of Feminism on Marriage and Cultural Narratives

Twenty years ago, conversations like this were difficult to have.

The media was controlled by a small number of voices, and certain perspectives simply were not allowed.

Now, that has changed.

We can have open conversations. We can question ideas that were once treated as unquestionable. And for many people, that is bringing a sense of relief.

Because there has been a growing feeling that something is off, even if people could not quite put words to it.

Why Toxic Femininity Is Rarely Discussed in Relationship Advice

We hear a lot about toxic masculinity.

But almost nothing about how women can be destructive in relationships.

That does not make sense.

If you have worked with people for any length of time, you know that unhealthy behaviour shows up in both men and women. It is part of being human.

So why is one side constantly examined, and the other largely ignored?

This creates an imbalance. It prevents honest conversations. And it makes it much harder for couples to take responsibility for their part in what is going wrong.

The Devaluing of Womanhood in Modern Feminist Culture

One of the deeper concerns is the way womanhood itself has been reframed.

Qualities that used to be seen as stabilising and grounding are now often dismissed or undervalued.

And many women are taking in large amounts of external messaging, political, cultural, social, without always recognising the impact it has on how they feel, think, and relate.

I see this clinically.

If you are not careful about what you let in, it can destabilise you. It can affect how you see yourself, your partner, and your role within a family.

Why Talking About Men’s Needs in Marriage Creates Backlash

Here is where it becomes very uncomfortable.

It is widely accepted that women and children have needs that should be protected and prioritised.

But when you start talking about what men need from women, the reaction can be intense.

Criticism. Pushback. Dismissal.

And yet, relationships do not work unless both people matter.

If we cannot openly discuss men’s needs, then we cannot build healthy, functioning partnerships.

Marriage, Motherhood, and Responsibility in Family Life

There is also a deeper relational truth that is often missed. If you harm your partner, you are not only affecting them. You are affecting your children.

As a mother, most people agree that you should care about what your children need. But fewer people are willing to extend that same thinking to the father of those children.

And yet, the emotional environment between parents shapes everything for a child.

You cannot separate the two.

What the Decline in Trust Means for Modern Relationships

If men and women continue to misunderstand each other, mistrust each other, and avoid honest conversations about what they need, the consequences are obvious.

• Fewer stable relationships.
• More confusion.
• More disconnection.

And ultimately, more people struggling alone.

This is not about blaming feminism for everything. But it is about asking whether some of the ideas we have absorbed are helping or harming the very thing most people still say they want, a loving, stable, connected relationship.

Where to Find Carrie Gress

If you’d like to explore Carrie’s work further, here are some of her key resources:

Website
https://www.carriegress.com/

Theology of Home
https://theologyofhome.com/

Books
• The End of Woman
• Something Wicked: Why Feminism Can’t Be Fused with Christianity

You can find her full bio and additional work here:
https://www.carriegress.com/about

Final Thoughts

There is a way forward.

But it starts with honesty.

Honesty about what men need.
Honesty about what women need.
And honesty about what has gone wrong.

Because until we can have that conversation properly, nothing meaningful is going to change.

Order You Copy of ‘The End of Woman’ Here: