Outlook in Terms of COVID and Gender

The published report exposes the results of the 28-country survey, in which Ipsos interviewed 20.520 adults from ages 16 – 74 during January and February 2021.

The study exposes global attitudes toward gender equality and is divided in sections to provide a comprehensive and panoramic view of the country's average perceptions towards different topics involving gender equality. The Woman Post summarizes some of the key findings for you:

1. Gender pay gap perceptions

In terms of the global country average, 42% of the surveyed people believe that closing the gender pay gap is important but should not be one of our top priorities right now. Also in terms of global country average, only 8% of interviewed people believe that closing the gender pay gap is not important. On the other hand, 36% of the surveyed individuals consider that closing the gender pay gap should be a priority right now, but of those voters, 41% were women and 31% were men. Only one in five people believe that reports about the gender pay gap in the media are fake news.

2. Recovery from COVID-19

Half of all the surveyed individuals believe that gender inequality will return to what it was before the pandemic. Also, 40% of all voters believe that more flexible working practices are the most important for ensuring that the program for recovery post-COVID-19 tackles issues facing women, whilst 36% believe that more support for women and girls who face abuses is the most important for ensuring that the program for post-COVID-19recovery addresses issues that affect women.

Also read: 9 TOPICS THAT WILL LEAD THE CONVERSATION IN 2021

3. What’s important in a leader?

When asked which four or five characteristics are the most important for political leaders to have so that they will do a good job handling the recovery from the current pandemic, 33% considered that the most important qualities that political leaders should have in this sense are putting their country’s needs before politics. The mentioned options were equally chosen by both men and women.

4. The impact of COVID-19

When asked if COVID-19 in terms of all its potential effects, would affect more negatively men, women, or both, 64% of all surveyed individuals consider that it has impacted both men and women equally. However, higher proportions in Chile, Israel, and Canada believe it has been more negative for women.

5. Gender and work

At this point, surveyed individuals were asked to respond if various jobs are performed more by women than men. In general, the results reveal that jobs that are perceived as been done more by women, such as childcare providers, nurses, teachers, or shop workers,  are also the most likely to be seen as being paid too little.

The results of the conducted survey, reveal that there is still much to be done in terms of gender equality, but they also show that although people are generally aware of the importance of closing the gender pay gap, they consider it should not be a top priority right now. Also, general perceptions disclose that in terms of COVID-19 recovery, an important way to ensure that the programs for recovery tackle issues faced by women, is to provide more flexible work options. In terms of gender and work there is much to be done since the results are clear on that the general perception is that jobs that are been done more by women than by men are also likely to be seen as being paid too little. 

Read the full report by clicking here.