Progress and Polarisation: Global Attitudes Toward Gender Equality in 2025
Ipsos' latest International Women's Day survey, spanning 30 countries reveals a complex picture of progress and polarisation surrounding gender equality.
Conducted in collaboration with the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King’s College London, for International Women’s Day (8 March 2025), survey shows that while long-term trends show some positive attitudinal shifts, significant gaps remain, particularly among younger generations.
Key findings include:
- Persistent Optimism for Young Women's Futures: A majority believe young women today will have better lives than their mothers' generation, but this optimism is less pronounced for young men.
- Gen Z Divided: While young women are more likely to identify as feminists, Gen Z men are significantly more likely to agree that efforts towards gender equality have gone too far and discriminate against men, highlighting a growing generational divide.
- Mixed Views on Progress: While a majority agree that gender equality is personally important, fewer than half believe significant progress will be made in the next five years. Many also feel that current efforts by governments and businesses, while positive, haven't gone far enough.
- Recognising Societal Tensions: Tensions between men and women, as well as between different age groups and economic classes, are widely acknowledged, particularly by younger generations. These tensions may contribute to the polarized perceptions surrounding gender equality progress.
- Varied Experiences Shape Perceptions: Personal experiences, such as having a female manager or living in a country with a female leader, influence views on gender equality. Notably, more women than men report having a mother/female caregiver who performed the majority of housework during their childhood.
This survey underscores the need for continued efforts to advance gender equality, while addressing the concerns and perceptions of all segments of society, particularly young men.
Further exploration of these generational differences and underlying societal tensions is crucial to fostering a more inclusive and equitable future.
