The people of the G20 countries expect strong practical measures in order to make gender equality a reality
The Women’s Forum for Economy & Society released the results of its Barometer today. This highlights the perceptions of the general public on issues of gender equality, comparing them with the reality of the situation, by analysing the latest data.
To complete this major study, the Women’s Forum and its partner Ipsos surveyed a representative sample consisting of 9,500 people from, in equal parts (with 500 people aged 18 or over from each country), 19 countries of the G20. (The 20th member being the European Union). It's the extension of the sample across this number of countries that makes the Barometer a strong and indeed ground-breaking tool, by offering a unique vision of people's perceptions reflecting the history and culture of each country.
4 key points in the 2021 Barometer:
COVID: A danger to equality
Covid has had a harmful effect on the perception, as well as on the reality, of equality between men and women: Women are 11 points more likely than men (69% against 58%) to state that they have suffered from burn-out, anxiety or depression since the beginning of the pandemic. They are also more likely to be scared about the future (79% against 70%), to state that they have more housework to get through (70% against 66%), to be unable to find the time to stay healthy (61% against 56%), and to have lost self-confidence.
WORK: Glaringly unequal opportunities
47%: That's the percentage of people living in the G20 countries who believe that women have less chance to succeed in business. Of those surveyed, 42% believe that women have also less chances to work in the 'jobs of tomorrow'.
CLIMATE: Action by women is essential in the fight against global warming
Results show that women are more willing to change their consumption habits, and more likely to take steps towards recycling, shopping locally, reducing consumption of water and meat, and in favour of 'mindful consumption'.
EQUALITY: Calls for balance
Half (48%) of those surveyed believe that equality between men and women is unattainable in the world as a whole, a figure which drops to 35% when the question is confined to the G20 countries. Those who do believe it is possible think it will take between 16 years (for the G20 countries) and 26 years (for the world as a whole) before this is achieved.
At the same time, the great majority of those surveyed (80%) think that this equality would benefit everybody in terms of growth, benefits for society in general, employment and pay!
These results highlight a high level of awareness, amongst the respondents in the G20 countries, of the issue of gender equality; and they demonstrate a good grasp of the reality of the situation. People are ready today to accept coercive measures and to ask that they produce real change.
In the light of this data and to give force to the “calls to action” demanded en masse by the general public, the Women’s Forum calls for the mobilisation of the G20 in order to have, as soon as possible, an inclusive economy in which women play a full part.
Link to the Women’s Forum report
About the Women’s Forum: The Women's Forum for the Economy & Society, a subsidiary of the Publicis Group, is a first-tier international platform dedicated to getting women's voices heard concerning major economic, environmental, corporate and societal issues at global level, which affect all humanity. Based in Paris, France, the Women's Forum is committed to leadership and progress by women throughout the year, with a series of initiatives such as the Daring Circles, the CEO Champions and Rising Talents, with the support of corporate, institutional and academic partners, researchers, scientists, experts and non-governmental organisations.
