Researchers reveal what men and women envy in each other — and discover a new form of envy

A recent study published in Frontiers in Psychology sheds light on what men and women envy in each other, revealing that envy often reflects broader social and biological disparities between the sexes. The research found that women tend to envy men for their perceived social advantages and biological freedoms, while men often envy women for their physical attractiveness and traditional roles, such as motherhood.

The researchers were inspired to explore gender-based envy after noticing recurring patterns of emotional imbalance in their discussions with students. These discussions revealed that envy often played a role in male-female relationships, prompting the researchers to investigate further. Despite extensive literature on envy, little attention had been paid to how it operates between genders in contemporary society, particularly as gender roles evolve.

“The interest in this topic arose from our teaching practice, when the author of the idea, the head of the Department of Educational and School Psychology at the University of Ostrava, Tereza Kimplova, began to notice some specific manifestations of emotions and imbalances in her class discussions with students, which the students referred to as envy” said one of the authors of the study, Michaela Krakovska, an assistant professor at the University of Ostrava.

“We discussed the topic of male-female relationships extensively with about 600 students. After reviewing the existing literature, we found that this was a topic that had not been addressed recently and would be worthy of implementation in new settings.”

“As a new generation of young people comes of age with more open opportunities and ideas about the greater permeability of social roles between the sexes, we were interested in whether and in what context experiences of gender envy would manifest themselves.”

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To explore gender envy, the researchers conducted a study using data collected through a national survey administered by a professional sociological research agency. The sample included 1,769 participants aged 15 and older, representative of the population of the Czech Republic. Participants were asked an open-ended question: “What do you envy in the other sex?” This approach allowed respondents to provide unfiltered, individualized answers ranging from single words to detailed sentences.

The researchers analyzed the responses using thematic analysis, a method that organizes qualitative data into identifiable patterns and themes. Responses were coded and grouped into three overarching categories, or “supercategories”: societal advantages, physicality, and psychological traits. Each of these supercategories was further divided into subcategories to capture nuanced aspects of gender envy.

The researchers found that women were more likely to express envy toward men for perceived societal privileges. Common responses included men’s higher salaries, career advancement opportunities, and freedom from societal pressures related to appearance and emotional labor. Many women highlighted men’s ability to “relax” and enjoy a simpler, less stressful life, unburdened by household and childcare responsibilities.

On the other hand, men envied women for their ability to use beauty and charm to influence others, as well as their freedom to express emotions openly without societal judgment.

Physical traits were a significant focus of envy for both sexes. Women envied men’s physical strength and freedom from biological processes such as menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. Many women also noted their envy of men’s ability to age naturally without facing intense societal scrutiny.

“The research uncovered a new type of envy, which we have called ‘ablative envy,’ because it consists of envying something that the other person does not have, but which the envious person does not want to have,” Krakovská told PsyPost. “Specifically, women envy men for not having menstruation, not having to go through childbirth and menopause. The subtext is that the envier would like to have something unpleasant taken away from them and not have to endure it, just as the object of their envy does not have to endure it.”

Conversely, men frequently expressed envy for women’s beauty, elegance, and the social advantages associated with attractiveness. They also admired women’s ability to bring new life into the world, with some men specifically noting their envy of motherhood.

In the psychological domain, men and women envied each other for different perceived strengths. Men envied women’s ability to multitask and effectively manage complex responsibilities, while women expressed envy for men’s emotional stability and logical approach to life. This highlighted the ways in which societal expectations shape perceptions of emotional and cognitive traits.

“Women most often envy men for their more carefree lives, their finances, and their status in the world of work,” Krakovská said. “Men, on the other hand, envy women’s physical beauty and their ability to seduce and manipulate. Envy therefore reflects the gender imbalance in society and the fact that we are not equal in our desires.”

Interestingly, the researchers also found that while gender envy is prevalent, a substantial portion of respondents—over 42% of women and 56% of men—reported that they did not envy the opposite sex at all. This suggests that while societal roles and biological differences generate envy, many individuals view gender differences with acceptance or neutrality.

“The main limitation of the study is the nationally homogeneous sample (Czech population), which may differ from foreign samples,” Krakovská noted. “Another limitation was the method of data collection based on a single question, which did not allow for further development of the topic or answers.”

Future research could address these limitations by exploring gender envy in more diverse cultural settings and employing a broader range of methods, such as in-depth interviews or surveys with structured response options.

“Our long-term goal is to explore gender envy more deeply and to better understand its causes and manifestations, including at the international level,” Krakovská explained. “We are already working on collaborations to collect data in countries with different cultural contexts, such as Portugal, Northern Macedonia, Slovakia, and Yemen.”

“We are currently focusing on an interdisciplinary analysis of the phenomenon of envy, not only in terms of empirical research, comparing this phenomenon in an international context in terms of specific cultural determinants and their influence on its manifestation, but also in terms of identifying and evaluating its potential practical implications for social dynamics, interpersonal relationships, and psychosocial climate in different cultural and social settings.”

The researchers also highlighted the need to further investigate ablative envy. Understanding this form of envy could shed light on how feelings of injustice and self-perception influence gender dynamics.

“This particular form of envy raises questions about its psychological, social, and cultural roots, including its possible links to feelings of injustice, low self-esteem, or perceived threats to one’s status,” Krakovská explained. “At the same time, it is crucial to explore what intervention strategies might be effective in mitigating it, particularly in the context of the interpersonal conflict and disruption of social cohesion that often accompanies ablative envy.”

“In short, our aim is to develop research and practical implications aimed at preventing envy between men and women from rapidly turning into resentment, hostility, and hatred.”

The study, “What do men and women envy each other for?“, was authored by Tereza Kimplova, Michaela Krakovska, Radim Badosek, and Panajotis Cakirpaloglu.