WORK & MONEY

2015 REAL SIMPLE/TIME AMBITION POLL

WOMEN & AMBITION

Last year, Real Simple launched its Work & Money section with a national survey about success, conducted with our sister brand TIME. This year, we’ve teamed up again to go a bit deeper—into the touchy territory of ambition. Where do women stand when it comes to professional drive? How does the struggle for balance factor in? How do we compare with our male counterparts? Our pollsters talked to more than 1,000 people to find out. Here are the (surprising, encouraging) results.

IT AIN’T JUST ABOUT MONEY

65% of women (and70% of men) said that they would still work even if they were independently wealthy…

…and half would rather get the job of their dreams than retire comfortably tomorrow.

work & money

60% of women say they’re more ambitious than their mothers, and 45% are more ambitious than their fathers.

Most people—both women and men—feel that DEDICATION + HARD WORK

are the two most relevant components in getting ahead (as opposed to ambition, charisma, and ability to play the game). Talent came in third (!).

7

OUT OF

10

RESPONDENTS FEEL THAT AMBITION IS A CHARACTER TRAIT THAT’S DEVELOPED, NOT INNATE.

38%

of women vs.

51%

of men would characterize themselves as very or extremely ambitious.

(What? Do you need us to repeat the question?)

BTW, ALMOST NO ONE PICKED CUTTHROAT OR SELFISH FROM THE LIST.

CONFIDENT, DRIVEN, SMART

DRIVEN, CONFIDENT, SELF-IMPORTANT

The three words that most come to mind when people hear the phrase

“AMBITIOUS WOMAN.”

WHATEVS

ONLY 19% OF WOMEN FIND IT VERY OR EXTREMELY ACCEPTABLE NOT TO BE AMBITIOUS AT ALL.

The three words that most come to mind when people hear the phrase

“AMBITIOUS MAN.”

HA! SORRY, FELLAS! HUBBA HUBBA!

6 OUT OF 10

respondents—men and women—said that they find ambitious people somewhat (or very!) attractive.

Poll by

surveymonkey

Illustrations by

Mikey Burton

*THIS SURVEY OF 1,042 ADULTS WAS CONDUCTED JULY 20 TO 21 BY SURVEYMONKEY. RESPONDENTS WERE SELECTED TO MIRROR AGE AND SEX PROPORTIONS OF ADULTS ACCORDING TO THE U.S. CENSUS USING SURVEYMONKEY AUDIENCE, A PROPRIETARY ONLINE PANEL.