Women in society: Ipsos Global Trends Survey

New data from the Ipsos Global Trends Survey shows that one third (34%) of online adults across 20 countries agree that the role of women in society is to be good mothers and wives, while six in ten (60%) disagree. However, Russia bucks the global trend with three in four (73%) saying that women’s role is to be a good mother and a wife, as do majorities in India at 56% and China at 54%. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Sweden is at the other end of the spectrum with only 9% of people agreeing women should play this role, along with several other Western countries such as Spain (11%), France (16%), Italy (22%), Belgium, Canada (both 23%), and Britain (24%).

Across the globe there are significant discrepancies in how the sexes view the role of women in society, with men more likely to take a traditional view. And this is not just true of the countries at the top of the table, such as Russia (67% of women agree, compared with 79% of men), India (52% of women, 61% of men) and China (45% of women, 64% of men). Even in countries that are less likely to view a woman’s role in society as being a good wife and mother, there is still a difference in the views of men and women, such as in Sweden (4% of women agree, compared with 13% of men) Canada (19% of women, 28% of men), Australia (25% of women, 34% of men) and Germany (27% of women, 36% of men).

Russian’s perceptions of women in society are reinforced by the fact that only 38% agree that things would work better if more women held positions with responsibilities in government and companies. They share the bottom of the table with Argentina (also 38%) and South Korea (39%).

Meanwhile, half of Britons (54%) agree that things would improve if women held more positions of power, in line with the global average of 53%. India (69%), Turkey (68%), Italy (66%) and Brazil (64%) are the most likely to feel that more women in power would be beneficial to the way things work in their country.

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Technical Note

• The survey was conducted in 20 countries via the Ipsos Online Panel with a total sample of 16,039 adults aged 18-64 in the US and Canada, and age 16-64 in all other countries. Approximately 1000+ individuals were surveyed in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Spain, Great Britain and the United States of America. Approximately 500+ individuals were surveyed in Argentina, Belgium, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sweden and Turkey. The survey was undertaken between September 3rd and September 17th, 2013. In developed countries where internet access is high, this can be taken as representative of the general working age population. However, in developing nations the results should be viewed as representative of a more affluent and “connected” population.
• Where results do not sum to 100, this may be due to computer rounding, multiple responses or the exclusion of don't knows or not stated responses.
• Data are weighted to balance demographics and ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to the most recent country Census data, and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.