Full results of the
European Youth Poll on Gender Equality For more information please contact Jacob D端ringer Project Manager at the EYP International Office j.dueringer@eyp.org +49-30-28095146
•
4112 Participants
• From
45 European Countries • Aged
1616-27
• Poll Conducted Between: May 22nd and June 4th 2013
This is a project of the European Youth Parliament. The results do not represent the official views of the organisation.
Survey: Traditional Gender Roles are widespread, but unpopular among many young Europeans Executive Summary
Traditional views on gender roles are widespread in most European countries, according to the participants of the latest European Youth Poll. Two thirds of all respondents confirmed this for their countries, with large differences between countries like Turkey (92%) and the Netherlands (16%). At the same time, these traditional views are unpopular. Only 26% think that working in the household and raising children is mainly the responsibility of women, while 88% think it should be equally common for both genders to take time off from work when they have children. The question whether men and women should be paid equally for the same work leads to almost unanimous support (97%) for equal pay. Furthermore, 52% think it is in fact a career obstacle to be female. The Poll, which was conducted online by the European Youth Parliament in co-operation with the Stiftung Mercator foundation and with the help of other youth organisations, was taken by 4112 people between 16 and 27 from 45 European countries. It was held between May 22nd and June 4th, 2013. Only 32% of all participants think their governments are active enough in promoting Gender Equality. 89% would welcome a more active role by the European Union. Whether this should include a quota for women in leadership position is debated: 48% of all respondents are in favour, a similar number disagrees. The European Youth Parliament (EYP) is a non-partisan and independent educational organization active since 1987. Today it is one of the largest European platforms for political debate, intercultural encounters, political educational work and the exchange of ideas among young people in Europe. The EYP consists of a network of 36 European associations in which thousands of young people are active in a voluntary capacity. The European Youth Polls are conducted four times a year. They are open to all young people in Europe, but the results are not scientifically representative. Most of the respondents are actively engaged in civil society organisations. In 2012, 15863 young people participated.
"Men and women are treated equally in my country." 100,0%
"I agree" (59,8%)
"I disagree" (39,7%)
90,0%
Overall, about 60% of all participants think that men and women are treated equally in their countries. However, this is very different across countries, with over 80% in Finland and the Netherlands, but less than a third of participants from Italy, Albania, Georgia or Turkey. There is also a clear gender divide: 68% of male participants agree, but only 54% of female participants.
80,0%
70,0%
60,0%
50,0%
40,0%
"I somewhat agree" "I somewhat disagree"
"Agree" Agreement among all female / male participants
30,0% Female 54,00%
20,0%
10,0%
"I strongly agree"
"I strongly disagree" Male
0,0%
68,60%
"Men and women are treated equally in my country." 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
Answers: “I strongly agree” or “I somewhat agree” (only countries with more than 50 participants).
"Traditional views on gender roles are strong in my country." 100,00%
90,00%
"I agree" (66,8%)
"I disagree" (32,2%)
Even though a majority sees men and women treated equally in their countries, two thirds of all participants think that traditional views on gender roles are strong in their countries. This feeling is particularly strong in Turkey, but also in other countries like Ireland or Serbia.
80,00%
70,00%
60,00%
"I somewhat agree" 50,00%
40,00%
"Agree" Agreement among all female / male participants
30,00%
"I somewhat disagree" Female
20,00%
68,80%
"I strongly agree"
"I strongly disagree"
10,00% Male 0,00%
62,35%
"Traditional views on gender roles are strong in my country." 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
Answers: “I strongly agree” or “I somewhat agree” (only countries with more than 50 participants).
"I have personally witnessed gender discrimination. 100,00%
More than half of all participants have witnessed gender discrimination. Once more interesting is the gender divide in the answers: Only 48% of all male participants think so, but 61% of all females.
90,00%
80,00%
"I agree" (55,8%)
"I disagree" (39,5%)
70,00%
60,00%
50,00%
"I somewhat agree"
40,00%
"I somewhat disagree"
30,00%
Female 20,00%
10,00%
60,89%
"I strongly agree" "I strongly disagree" Male 48,37%
0,00%
"I have personally witnessed gender discrimination." 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
Answers: “I strongly agree” or “I somewhat agree” (only countries with more than 50 participants).
"Men and women should be paid equally for the same work. "I agree" (97 %)
There is near unanimity among the participants that equal work should be paid equally.
"I disagree" (2,7%)
100,00%
"I somewhat agree" 90,00%
80,00%
70,00%
60,00%
50,00%
40,00%
30,00% Female
98,35%
20,00%
"I somewhat disagree" 10,00%
"I strongly agree" "I strongly disagree"
0,00%
Male
95,04%
"Men and women should be paid equally for the same work." 100%
98%
96%
94%
92%
90%
88%
Answers: “I strongly agree” or “I somewhat agree” (only countries with more than 50 participants).
"I think being female is an obstacle to a successful career in my country." 100,00%
"I agree" (52,2%)
"I disagree" (45,3%)
90,00%
Is being female an obstacle to a successful career? Opinions on this differ, and the group of participants as a whole is split. Italian, but also German respondents felt strongly that this is in fact the case in their countries. 61% of all female respondents agreed, but only 38% of all males taking the Poll.
80,00%
70,00%
60,00%
50,00%
40,00%
"I somewhat disagree" "I somewhat agree"
30,00% Female 61,35%
20,00%
10,00%
"I strongly agree"
"I strongly disagree" Male 38,86%
0,00%
"I think being female is an obstacle to a successful career in my country." 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
Answers: “I strongly agree” or “I somewhat agree” (only countries with more than 50 participants).
"Working in the household and raising children is mainly the responsibility of women." 100,00%
The idea that household work and raising children is mainly the responsibility of women seems outdated to a large majority of participants.
90,00%
80,00%
"I agree" (26,4%)
"I disagree" (71,5%)
70,00%
60,00%
50,00%
40,00%
"I somewhat disagree"
30,00%
20,00%
Female
"I somewhat agree"
24,33%
"I strongly disagree" 10,00%
"I strongly agree" 0,00%
Male 29,48%
"Working in the household and raising children is mainly the responsibility of women." 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
Answers: “I strongly agree” or “I somewhat agree” (only countries with more than 50 participants).
"It should be equally common for both men and women to take time off from work when they have children." 100,00%
"I agree" (87,7%)
"I disagree" (10,6%)
On a similar note, almost 90% think that it should be equally common for people of different genders to take time off when they have children.
90,00%
80,00%
"I somewhat agree"
70,00%
60,00%
50,00%
40,00%
30,00%
20,00%
10,00%
Female 90%
"I strongly agree" "I somewhat disagree" "I strongly disagree"
0,00%
Male
84%
"It should be equally common for both men and women to take time off from work when they have children." 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
Answer: “there should be more integration (more decisions on the European level)� (only countries with more than 50 participants).
"The government should provide day care facilities for all children, in order to enable mothers and fathers to work." 100,00%
"I agree" agree (87%)
Government-provided days care facilities are very popular almost everywhere — only participants form the Czech Republic have mixed opinions on this.
"I disagree" disagree (10,6%)
90,00%
80,00%
"I somewhat agree"
70,00%
60,00%
50,00%
40,00%
30,00%
"I strongly agree" Female 93%
20,00%
10,00%
0,00%
"I somewhat disagree" "I strongly disagree"
Male 78%
"The government should provide day care facilities for all children, in order to enable mothers and fathers to work." 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
Answers: “I strongly agree” or “I somewhat agree” (only countries with more than 50 participants).
"My government is doing enough to promote Gender Equality. 100,00%
90,00%
80,00%
Are governments active enough in promoting Gender Equality? While Belgians and Dutch participants are rather satisfied, most others, and especially those from Romania, Greece and Turkey are not happy at all. Once more on this question, a clear gender gap is visible: 40% of all male participants are content with what their government is doing, but only 27% of the females.
70,00%
"I agree" (32,3%)
"I disagree" (60,5%)
60,00%
"I somewhat disagree"
50,00%
40,00%
30,00%
20,00%
Female
"I somewhat agree"
27%
"I strongly disagree" 10,00%
"I strongly agree"
Male 40%
0,00%
"My government is doing enough to promote Gender Equality." 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
Answers: “I strongly agree” or “I somewhat agree” (only countries with more than 50 participants).
"The European Union should actively promote Gender Equality. 100,00%
"I agree" (88,6%) (88,6 )
"I disagree" (9,3 ( ,3%) ,3 )
Being mostly unhappy with the actions of their own government, a large majority wants the European Union to be active in the promotion of Gender Equality.
90,00%
80,00%
"I somewhat agree"
70,00%
60,00%
50,00%
40,00%
"I strongly agree"
30,00% Female 95%
20,00%
10,00%
"I somewhat disagree" 0,00%
"I strongly disagree"
Male 79%
"The European Union should actively promote Gender Equality. 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
Answers: “I strongly agree” or “I somewhat agree” (only countries with more than 50 participants).
"A gender quota should be introduced to raise the number of women in leadership positions." 100,00%
While many favour strong EU involvement, the idea of a gender quota is met with mixed opinions. While 60% of all female participants are in favour, only 30% of all male participants agree.
90,00%
80,00%
"I agree" (48%)
"I disagree" (47,5%)
"I somewhat agree"
"I somewhat disagree"
70,00%
60,00%
50,00%
40,00%
30,00% Female 59,87%
20,00%
"I strongly agree"
"I strongly disagree"
10,00% Male 30,08% 0,00%
"A gender quota should be introduced to raise the number of women in leadership positions." 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
Answers: “I strongly agree” or “I somewhat agree” (only countries with more than 50 participants).
"I think that 20 years from now, men and women will be more equal throughout Europe."
Thinking about the future, 4 out of 5 participants are optimistic that in 20 years, men and women will be more equal throughout Europe.
100,00%
90,00%
"I agree" (79,9%)
"I disagree" (14,4%)
80,00%
70,00%
"I somewhat agree" 60,00%
50,00%
40,00%
30,00% Female 79,80%
20,00%
"I strongly agree" 10,00%
"I somewhat disagree" "I strongly disagree"
Male 80,21%
0,00%
100%
"I think that 20 years from now, men and women will be more equal throughout EuropeI think that 20 years from now, men and women will be more equal throughout Europe."
90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
Answers: “I strongly agree” or “I somewhat agree” (only countries with more than 50 participants).
"Regarding the current overall state of European integration, I think‌." 100,00%
90,00%
80,00%
"More integration" (55%, -5,8) 5,8)
"Less integration" (20,65%, +1,15) +1,15)
"Integration as today" (14,9% +0,6)
70,00%
60,00%
50,00%
40,00%
30,00%
20,00%
10,00%
0,00%
"...there should be more integration (more decisions on the European level)"
"...there should be less integration (more decisions on the national
...integration should stay as it is today
"Regarding the current overall state of European integration, I think there should be more integration." 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
Answers: “I strongly agree” or “I somewhat agree” (only countries with more than 50 participants).
"Generally, the EU should be enlarged through the accession of more countries." 100,00%
90,00%
80,00%
70,00%
"I agree" (51,9%, -1,0) 1,0)
"I disagree" (39,7%, -3,4) 3,4)
60,00%
50,00%
40,00%
"I somewhat agree" "I somewhat disagree"
30,00%
20,00%
"I strongly agree" 10,00%
0,00%
"I strongly disagree"
"Generally, the EU should be enlarged through the accession of more countries." 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
Answers: “I strongly agree” or “I somewhat agree” (only countries with more than 50 participants).