1 in 4 men believe women’s equality comes at their expense
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A new study conducted ahead of the August centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment came to a jarring conclusion — about 1 in 4 men believe the progress women have made toward equality has come at their expense.
The report by the Pew Research Center, released last week, took a big-picture look at the state of gender equality in America. Pew surveyed more than 3,000 U.S. adults in March and April of this year, giving men and women a chance to share their feelings on the progress women have — or haven’t — made in the last century.
About 28% of men think women’s progress in society — from gains in the workforce to political representation — have come at the expense of men. That sentiment was particularly strong among Republican men (38%), who are twice as likely as Democratic males (19%) to see men’s status as undermined by the progress of women.
A quarter of Republican women also agreed with their male political peers.
However, 57% of respondents think the push for gender equality hasn’t gone far enough.
Among those who agree more progress is needed, sexual harassment is seen as the biggest obstacle facing women, followed by “women not having the same legal rights as men,” societal expectations for women, and a shortage of women in positions of power.
Family responsibilities — a major concern for many working women with schools and child care centers closed during the coronavirus crisis — come in fifth as a factor holding women back.
Another gender gap appears when it comes to how optimistic respondents are that gender equality is within reach.
Thirty-seven percent of men who believe the country has not gone far enough to achieve equal rights believe reaching that milestone is very likely, compared with only 26% of women. Democratic women are among the least likely to expect men and women will ever achieve equal rights.
The report also addresses not just the state of gender equality, but the feminist movement that has pushed for it. Survey respondents think that white, Black and Hispanic women have all benefited from the feminist movement; however, a racial gap appears when respondents are asked how much women of different racial backgrounds benefited.
Read more about the Pew report.