Politics, more than gender, shapes Americans' views on feminism and gender roles

Partisanship plays a bigger role than gender in shaping the divide over Americans' views on feminism and gender roles, according to the latest Economist / YouGov Poll.

More Americans have a very or somewhat favorable view of feminism than an unfavorable view (49% vs. 31%). Nearly half (46%) say the country has not gone far enough in promoting gender equality, compared with 17% who think it has gone too far; 37% say it has been about right.

Half (50%) of Americans say there are more advantages to being a man than a woman in society today. Only 13% say there are more advantages to being a woman, while 36% say there is no difference.

Americans are also divided on gender roles: 51% say men and women are equally capable of taking on all roles, while 45% believe men are better suited for some roles and women for others.

Opinion is similarly split on the source of differences between men and women. Nearly equal shares say gender differences are mostly the result of biology (46%) and society and culture (45%).

Attitudes toward gender are shaped much more by partisanship than by gender itself. Democrats are far more likely than Republicans to say the country has not gone far enough in promoting gender equality (78% vs. 16%), that there are more advantages to being a man (74% vs. 30%), that men and women are equally capable of taking on all roles (68% vs. 35%), and that most differences between men and women are the result of society and culture (67% vs. 25%).

Differences by gender are smaller but still notable. Women are more likely than men to say the country has not gone far enough in promoting gender equality (54% vs. 36%), that there are more advantages to being a man (59% vs. 41%), that men and women are equally capable of taking on all roles (57% vs. 44%), and that most differences between men and women are the result of society and culture (52% vs. 38%).

Image: Getty (Carbonero Stock)

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