Institutional bias against women in the Workplace. global study

A new global study conducted by Ipsos in collaboration with the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King’s College London for International Women’s Day shows that, on average, across 30 countries:

• People believe that women are more likely to be judged in the workplace in relation to family and caring responsibilities, and just under half think workplaces treat men and women equally
• Men are less likely to recognize issues facing women, including institutional bias, and more likely to think educational and health services treat women better than men

While the proportion of people defining themselves as “feminists” has increased, opposition to feminism persists, particularly among men

The proportion of adults who agree with the statement “I define myself as a feminist” has increased since it was last measured by Ipsos in 2019. In 2022 a global country average of 40% agree compared with 33% in 2019. This represents a return to the levels seen in 2018 when 37% agreed.

• Globally, almost half of women (47%) define themselves as feminists compared to one-third of men (32%).

Workplace bias relating to caring responsibilities seems to be hitting women hardest, but flexible working policies would benefit both women and men

• When comparing participants of all ages, there is very little difference in the responses of men and women; for example, men and women are equally likely to select concerns about the impact on their career (6% each).

When thinking more broadly about gender in the workplace:

• There has been a marginal increase at the global level in the proportion of people who think workplaces in their country treat men and women equally: from 41% in 2020 to 44%.
• When given a list of activities that could be damaging to someone’s career, the areas people think are most likely to impact a woman’s career more than a man’s career are:
  • Having childcare responsibilities come up during the working day (globally, 35% think it will damage a woman’s career more vs. 9% a man’s career more;),
  • Having other caring responsibilities come up during the working day (globally, 28% more damaging for women vs. 9% more damaging for men;),
  • Prioritizing family over work (globally, 28% vs. 10%;).

Globally women are about twice as likely as men to consider that these activities are more likely to damage a woman’s career than a man’s.

• One-quarter of all those surveyed globally (30-country average of 25%) say childcare or caring responsibilities have prevented them from applying for a job or promotion or have caused them to leave or consider leaving a job, with women more likely to be affected than men (31% vs. 19% globally,). More specifically:
  • 18% of women say caring responsibilities have prevented them from applying for a job or promotion.
  • 10% say childcare or other caring responsibilities have led them to leave a job

Despite these gendered differences, men and women’s prioritization of flexible working options is very similar. On average across the 30 countries surveyed:

• 38% would like to have more flexibility in when they start and finish work,
• 31% would like more flexibility in their work location,
• 26% would like to work fewer hours per week, and
• 25% would like to work their hours in fewer days.

People are most likely to see institutions as treating men and women equally, although institutional bias is recognized – most commonly against women

When asked whether different institutions treat women better, worse, or about the same as men, generally people across the world are most likely to think institutions treat women and men equally. However, women feel there is more institutional bias against women than men do.

• Social media receives the worst scores and is the only institution that as many people say treats women worse than men as say it treats them about the same (37%, vs. 35%) while only 16% say women are treated better than men by social media.
• While pluralities consider they treat women about the same as men, more people say of four other institutions that they treat women worse than men than say they treat women better: the government (global country average of 32% for worse vs. 16% for better, the media (29% vs. 19%), the police (27% vs. 20%), and courts and prisons (22% vs. 18%).
• People are slightly more likely to think women are treated better than men by educational institutions (22% better vs. 16% worse) and health services (22% vs. 17%); both of these institutions also show the highest proportions of people thinking they treat men and women about the same (52% and 51%, respectively).

Globally, gender-based violence ranked as the top issue facing women, with women more likely to recognize issues of equal pay, balancing work and caring responsibilities, and unpaid work

People are most likely to select issues relating to gender-based violence when considering the most important issues facing women and girls. Globally, the top issues selected include:

• Sexual harassment (30-country average of 29%,.),
• Sexual violence (25% globally.),
• Domestic abuse (23%.), and
• Physical violence (20%).

Equal pay also ranks fourth globally (20%). Women are more likely than men to see equal pay as an important issue (22% vs. 17%). Women are also more likely to see balancing work and caring responsibilities as an issue (17% vs. 12% globally), and the amount of unpaid work women do (17% compared to 8% of men globally).

The equal pay is most highlighted as an issue in U.S., Canada, across Europe, and in Chile. Citizens of middle-income countries tend to prioritize issues relating to sexual harassment, sexual violence, and physical violence (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, and Turkey). Balancing work and caring responsibilities and a lack of financial/economic independence are ranked highly in Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.

About the Study

These are the results of a 30-country survey conducted by Ipsos on its Global Advisor online platform. Ipsos interviewed a total of 20,524 adults aged 18-74 in the United States, Canada, Malaysia, South Africa, and Turkey, aged 21-74 in Singapore, and 16-74 in 24 other countries between January 21 and February 4, 2022.