Women in Society today
Global study find that majority of men acknowledge that gender equality can only be achieved with men’s support, however half think they are being expected to do too much
KEY POINTS:
- Two thirds believe that women won’t achieve equality in their country unless men take actions to support women’s rights too. However, opinion is split on whether too much is being expected of men to help the fight for equality: 43% agree that men are being expected to do too much compared with 46% who disagree. Agreement is higher among men than women (50% vs 36%).
- There is still a long way to go – but attitudes are changing. Globally, half (50%) say that young women will have a better life than women from their parents’ generation. Two-thirds of people globally (65%) say that achieving equality between men and women is important to them personally - although this has fallen five points since last year (70%).
- In most countries childcare is no longer seen as the preserve of the woman; three-quarters globally (75%) disagree that a man who stays at home to look after his children is less of a man compared with just one in five (18%) agreeing. Three-quarters of people globally (75%) say they would be comfortable with having a female boss. Only 17% say they would feel uncomfortable. Men would be more uncomfortable with this than women (20% vs 14%).
- However, women still face significant issues. Three in ten people globally (30%) pick out sexual harassment as the top issue facing women, which is in line with findings in 2018 when the figure was 32%. Equal pay is highlighted as much more of an issue in many European countries. Respondents in Serbia (41%), Australia (40%), Poland (24%) and Russia (21%) see domestic abuse as the top issue, whilst people in South Korea (31%) and Japan (26%) feel that balancing work and caring responsibilities is the top issue that women are facing.
- Globally, the top actions that people feel would help to achieve equality between men and women are employers paying women the same as men for the same work (36%) and tougher laws to prevent violence and harassment against women (35%). The majority (69% and 68%) believe these respective actions will have a positive impact in achieving equality.
- Education is the area where people think equality will be achieved first - close to half (47%) are confident that discrimination against women in education will have ended in 20 years. People are much less confident about this happening in government and politics (37%).
Please find more insights and key data in the downloadable documents (Press Release and Presentation) coming along with this article.
