GALLUP NEWS SERVICE
PRINCETON, NJ -- According to Gallup's annual Minority Rights and Relations poll, conducted June 12-18, a majority of women do not believe that women have job opportunities that are equal to those that men have. Also, a majority of women have experienced firsthand what they consider to be gender-based discrimination in public life or employment. Perhaps as a result, most women favor affirmative action programs for women.
Despite these concerns, women are far more positive about gender fairness in society than blacks are about racial fairness, or than Hispanics are about society's treatment of their ethnic group. Women suffer some feelings of societal mistreatment, but not nearly as strongly as do blacks, or to a lesser degree, Hispanics.
Also, despite feeling skeptical about society's fairness to women, women are as likely as men to say they are satisfied with several important aspects of their personal lives, including the opportunities they have had to succeed, their job or the work they do, and their education. Blacks and Hispanics have lower levels of satisfaction with these important factors related to personal achievement.
Five Measures of Women's Status in Society
The survey includes five questions that explore women's perceptions about their treatment in society. One asks:
Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied with the way women are treated in society?
The results are somewhat ambiguous. On the one hand, only 21% of women say they are "very satisfied" with the way women are treated in society. On the other, a total of 69% are either "very satisfied" or "somewhat satisfied." This compares favorably with parallel findings about blacks and Hispanics whereby only 40% of black Americans are satisfied with the treatment of blacks in society, and just 51% of Hispanics are satisfied with the treatment of Hispanics. But the fact that so many women are less than fully satisfied suggests much room for improvement.
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Comparison of Perceived Group Treatment
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|
|
|
Hispanics' satisfaction with treatment of Hispanics |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
Very satisfied |
21 |
10 |
11 |
|
Somewhat satisfied |
48 |
30 |
40 |
|
Total satisfied |
69 |
40 |
51 |
A second question probes Americans' satisfaction with nine specific areas of their lives.
Next we'd like to know how satisfied are you with each of the following aspects of your life -- very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied. [Items Rotated]
When broken out by gender and racial group, Gallup finds that women and men report about equal levels of satisfaction with three variables that are closely associated with personal achievement: opportunities to succeed in life, the job or work one does, and education. Blacks and Hispanics have somewhat lower levels of satisfaction with these items, compared with men and women nationally.
| Satisfaction With Various Aspects of
Life % Satisfied |
 |
| Jun 12-18, 2003 |
A third question asks about gender equity with respect to jobs:
Do you feel that women in this country have equal job opportunities as men, or not?
A majority of women -- 56% -- believe that women in the United States do not have job opportunities that are equal to those that men have; just 43% believe they do. Perceptions of workplace equity are quite similar among younger and older women; a majority of both groups believe women do not have equal job opportunities.
|
Do women have equal job opportunities as men do?
|
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|
Women 18-49 |
Women 50+ |
|
|
Yes |
45% |
40% |
|
No |
54 |
59 |
|
No opinion |
1 |
1 |
A majority of men, but not a large majority (55%), believe that women do have equal job opportunities as men do. Just under half of all men (44%) believe women are denied equal job opportunities.
Importantly, Gallup's annual measurement of this question shows steady growth since 2001 in the percentage of women who perceive that women receive equal treatment with respect to jobs. (Gallup has noted a similar increase in perceptions of the position of women in the nation -- an item tracked on Gallup's annual Mood of the Nation poll conducted each January.) The attitudes of men about this question have not changed over this period.
| Percentage Saying "Yes," Women Have Equal Job Opportunities as Men Do |
 |
A fourth question asks women to report the frequency with which they experience gender-based discrimination.
Next we have a question about your own experiences as woman. How often do you feel discriminated against in public life or employment because you are a woman -- [ROTATED: every day, every week, about once a month, a few times a year, less than once a year, (or) never]?
About one in five American women report feeling discriminated against on a fairly regular basis. This includes 5% who say it happens daily, 7% who say it happens weekly, and 10% who say it happens about once a month. A total of 4 in 10 women (41%) say they are discriminated against at least a few times a year. A majority reports feeling discriminated against on at least some occasions (including 16% who say "less than once a year"), while 42% say they never experience this.
| Frequency at Which Women Say They Feel Discriminated Against in Public Life or Employment Because of Gender |
 |
| Jun 12-18, 2003 |
As problematic as this may sound for women, blacks are, by contrast, much more likely to report racial discrimination than women are to report gender discrimination. Interestingly, Hispanics and women are highly similar on this measure.
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Frequency of Perceived Gender- /Racial- /Ethnic-Based Discrimination |
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Cumulative Totals
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|
Monthly or more |
A few times a year or more |
Ever |
Never |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
Blacks |
39 |
64 |
79 |
19 |
|
Hispanics |
20 |
43 |
59 |
41 |
|
Women |
22 |
41 |
57 |
42 |
A fifth question documents Americans' basic reaction to the idea of affirmative action programs for women.
Do you generally favor or oppose affirmative action programs for women?
A solid majority of women (62%) favor the idea of affirmative action programs for women, as do a slightly smaller majority of men (56%). However, support for affirmative action varies among both men and women according to political party affiliation. Only a bare majority of Republican women (52%) say they favor affirmative action programs for women, versus 62% of female independents and 71% of female Democrats. Less than half of Republican men (45%) favor affirmative action for women, compared with 55% of independent men and 69% of Democratic men.
Generally speaking, Americans tend to be slightly more in favor of affirmative action programs for women than of affirmative action programs for racial minorities. In the 2003 Minority Relations poll, 49% favor affirmative action programs for racial minorities, compared with 59% who favor such programs for women.
Survey Methods
Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,385 national adults, aged 18+, conducted June 12-18, 2003, including oversamples of blacks and Hispanics that are weighted to reflect their proportions in the general population. For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points.
Results for the sample of -- 668 -- men, aged 18+, are based on telephone interviews conducted June 12-18, 2003. For results based on the total sample of men, one can say with 95% confidence that the margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points.
Results for the sample of -- 717 -- women, aged 18+, are based on telephone interviews conducted June 12-18, 2003. For results based on the total sample of women, one can say with 95% confidence that the margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points.
Results for the sample of -- 241 -- blacks, aged 18+, are based on telephone interviews conducted June 12-18, 2003. For results based on the total sample of blacks, one can say with 95% confidence that the margin of sampling error is ±7 percentage points.
Results for the sample of -- 266 -- Hispanics (including 12 Hispanic respondents who identify their race as black), aged 18+, conducted June 12-18, 2003. For results based on the total sample of Hispanics, one can say with 95% confidence that the margin of sampling error is ±7 percentage points. (53 out of the 266 interviews with Hispanics were conducted in Spanish).
In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.
13. Next we'd like to know how satisfied are you with each of the following aspects of your life -- very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied. How satisfied are you with -- [RANDOM ORDER]?
SUMMARY TABLE: SATISFACTION (BASED ON "VERY SATISFIED")
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Hispanic Whites |
|
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
Family life |
72 |
71 |
74 |
75 |
61 |
73 |
|
Current housing |
64 |
63 |
65 |
69 |
44 |
50 |
|
Community as a place to live in |
61 |
58 |
64 |
67 |
42 |
49 |
|
Safety from physical harm/violence |
60 |
63 |
58 |
63 |
43 |
59 |
|
Personal health |
58 |
57 |
59 |
58 |
52 |
59 |
|
Opportunities to succeed in life |
56 |
57 |
56 |
61 |
41 |
47 |
|
Job or the work you do |
56 |
57 |
55 |
59 |
52 |
51 |
|
Education |
53 |
53 |
53 |
54 |
48 |
49 |
|
Financial situation |
30 |
33 |
28 |
32 |
22 |
24 |
14. Next we'd like to know how you feel about the way various groups in society are treated. For each of the following groups please say whether you are very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied with the way they are treated. How about … [RANDOM ORDER]?
B. Women
|
Very |
Some- |
Some- |
Very |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
National Adults |
|||||
|
2003 Jun 12-18 |
28 |
44 |
17 |
10 |
1 |
|
2002 Jun 3-9 |
25 |
47 |
17 |
9 |
2 |
|
2001 Jun 11-17 |
24 |
46 |
18 |
11 |
1 |
|
Men |
|||||
|
2003 Jun 12-18 |
36 |
40 |
17 |
6 |
1 |
|
2002 Jun 3-9 |
34 |
43 |
15 |
6 |
2 |
|
2001 Jun 11-17 |
35 |
45 |
13 |
6 |
1 |
|
Women |
|||||
|
2003 Jun 12-18 |
21 |
48 |
16 |
14 |
1 |
|
2002 Jun 3-9 |
18 |
51 |
19 |
11 |
1 |
|
2001 Jun 11-17 |
13 |
48 |
22 |
15 |
2 |
|
Non-Hispanic Whites |
|||||
|
2003 Jun 12-15 |
31 |
45 |
15 |
8 |
1 |
|
2002 Jun 3-6 |
26 |
50 |
17 |
6 |
1 |
|
2001 Jun 11-17 |
24 |
49 |
17 |
9 |
1 |
|
Blacks |
|||||
|
2003 Jun 12-18 |
17 |
35 |
24 |
21 |
3 |
|
2002 Jun 3-9 |
19 |
40 |
17 |
22 |
2 |
|
2001 Jun 11-17 |
14 |
33 |
31 |
20 |
2 |
|
Hispanics |
|||||
|
2003 Jun 12-18 |
26 |
42 |
17 |
14 |
1 |
|
2002 Jun 3-9 |
26 |
41 |
17 |
12 |
4 |
|
2001 Jun 11-17 |
27 |
33 |
18 |
20 |
2 |
SUMMARY TABLE: SATISFACTION (BASED ON "VERY SATISFIED")
|
2003 Jun 12-18 |
|
|
|
Non-Hispanic Whites |
|
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
Women |
28 |
36 |
21 |
31 |
17 |
26 |
|
Asians |
25 |
29 |
21 |
26 |
20 |
20 |
|
Blacks |
20 |
23 |
18 |
22 |
10 |
11 |
|
Hispanics |
18 |
21 |
14 |
19 |
15 |
11 |
|
Immigrants |
15 |
17 |
12 |
15 |
14 |
11 |
23. Do you feel that women in this country have equal job opportunities as men, or not?
|
Yes |
No |
No opinion |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
National Adults |
|||
|
2003 Jun 12-18 |
49 |
50 |
1 |
|
2002 Jun 3-9 |
46 |
53 |
1 |
|
2001 Jun 11-17 |
42 |
57 |
1 |
|
Men |
|||
|
2003 Jun 12-18 |
55 |
44 |
1 |
|
2002 Jun 3-9 |
54 |
45 |
1 |
|
2001 Jun 11-17 |
53 |
46 |
1 |
|
Women |
|||
|
2003 Jun 12-18 |
43 |
56 |
1 |
|
2002 Jun 3-9 |
39 |
60 |
1 |
|
2001 Jun 11-17 |
32 |
67 |
1 |
|
Non-Hispanic Whites |
|||
|
2003 Jun 12-15 |
51 |
48 |
1 |
|
2002 Jun 3-6 |
46 |
52 |
2 |
|
2001 Jun 11-17 |
43 |
56 |
1 |
|
Blacks |
|||
|
2003 Jun 12-18 |
29 |
69 |
2 |
|
2002 Jun 3-9 |
34 |
65 |
1 |
|
2001 Jun 11-17 |
35 |
64 |
1 |
|
Hispanics |
|||
|
2003 Jun 12-18 |
54 |
46 |
-- |
|
2002 Jun 3-9 |
56 |
44 |
* |
|
2001 Jun 11-17 |
51 |
45 |
4 |
|
* Less than 0.5% |
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25. Do you generally favor or oppose affirmative action programs for women?
|
Favor |
Oppose |
No opinion |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
National Adults |
|||
|
2003 Jun 12-18 |
59 |
34 |
7 |
|
2001 Jun 11-17 |
53 |
38 |
9 |
|
Men |
|||
|
2003 Jun 12-18 |
56 |
39 |
5 |
|
2001 Jun 11-17 |
49 |
43 |
8 |
|
Women |
|||
|
2003 Jun 12-18 |
62 |
29 |
9 |
|
2001 Jun 11-17 |
57 |
34 |
9 |
|
Non-Hispanic Whites |
|||
|
2003 Jun 12-15 |
55 |
38 |
7 |
|
2001 Jun 11-17 |
50 |
42 |
8 |
|
Blacks |
|||
|
2003 Jun 12-18 |
77 |
15 |
8 |
|
2001 Jun 11-17 |
77 |
15 |
8 |
|
Hispanics |
|||
|
2003 Jun 12-18 |
69 |
22 |
9 |
|
2001 Jun 11-17 |
72 |
17 |
11 |
27. Next we have a question about your own experiences as [a black/a Hispanic]. How often do you feel discriminated against in public life or employment because you are [black/Hispanic] -- [ROTATED: every day, every week, about once a month, a few times a year, less than once a year, (or) never]?
|
|
|
|
|
Less than once a year |
|
|
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
All Blacks |
|||||||
|
2003 Jun 12-18 |
18 |
8 |
13 |
25 |
15 |
19 |
2 |
|
2002 Jun 3-9 |
15 |
9 |
13 |
31 |
7 |
23 |
2 |
|
2001 Jun 11-17 |
17 |
7 |
15 |
21 |
16 |
23 |
1 |
|
Black Men |
|||||||
|
2003 Jun 12-18 |
23 |
4 |
12 |
27 |
14 |
17 |
3 |
|
2002 Jun 3-9 |
12 |
10 |
16 |
30 |
6 |
26 |
-- |
|
2001 Jun 11-17 |
15 |
9 |
17 |
23 |
17 |
18 |
1 |
|
Black Women |
|||||||
|
2003 Jun 12-18 |
14 |
10 |
14 |
24 |
16 |
21 |
1 |
|
2002 Jun 3-9 |
16 |
8 |
11 |
32 |
9 |
21 |
3 |
|
2001 Jun 11-17 |
19 |
5 |
12 |
20 |
15 |
28 |
1 |
|
All Hispanics |
|||||||
|
2003 Jun 12-18 |
8 |
2 |
10 |
23 |
16 |
41 |
* |
|
2002 Jun 3-9 |
10 |
8 |
9 |
19 |
16 |
36 |
2 |
|
2001 Jun 11-17 |
6 |
12 |
13 |
21 |
12 |
35 |
1 |
|
Hispanic Men |
|||||||
|
2003 Jun 12-18 |
2 |
4 |
9 |
24 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
2002 Jun 3-9 |
9 |
7 |
10 |
19 |
14 |
40 |
1 |
|
2001 Jun 11-17 |
8 |
3 |
15 |
26 |
9 |
39 |
* |
|
Hispanic Women |
|||||||
|
2003 Jun 12-18 |
15 |
1 |
11 |
22 |
16 |
35 |
-- |
|
2002 Jun 3-9 |
10 |
9 |
8 |
19 |
18 |
32 |
4 |
|
2001 Jun 11-17 |
5 |
20 |
10 |
16 |
15 |
32 |
2 |
|
* Less than 0.5% |
|||||||
|
BASED ON -- 241 -- BLACK ADULTS; MAXIMUM ERROR ±7 PCT. PTS. |
|||||||
|
BASED ON -- 111 -- BLACK MEN; MAXIMUM ERROR ±10 PCT. PTS. |
|||||||
|
BASED ON -- 130 -- BLACK WOMEN; MAXIMUM ERROR ±9 PCT. PTS. |
|||||||
|
BASED ON -- 266 -- HISPANIC ADULTS; MAXIMUM ERROR ±7 PCT. PTS. |
|||||||
|
BASED ON -- 131 -- HISPANIC MEN; MAXIMUM ERROR ±9 PCT. PTS. |
|||||||
|
BASED ON -- 135 -- HISPANIC WOMEN; MAXIMUM ERROR ±9 PCT. PTS. |
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28. Next we have a question about your own experiences as woman. How often do you feel discriminated against in public life or employment because you are a woman -- [ROTATED: every day, every week, about once a month, a few times a year, less than once a year, (or) never]?
|
|
|
|
|
Less than once a year |
|
|
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
All Women |
|||||||
|
2003 Jun 12-18 |
5 |
7 |
10 |
19 |
16 |
42 |
1 |
|
2002 Jun 3-9 |
3 |
5 |
11 |
22 |
18 |
39 |
2 |
|
2001 Jun 11-17 |
5 |
6 |
11 |
20 |
19 |
37 |
2 |
|
Non-Hispanic White Women |
|||||||
|
2003 Jun 12-15 |
5 |
5 |
9 |
17 |
17 |
46 |
1 |
|
2002 Jun 3-6 |
3 |
4 |
10 |
22 |
19 |
40 |
2 |
|
2001 Jun 11-17 |
5 |
6 |
12 |
19 |
19 |
37 |
2 |
|
Black Women |
|||||||
|
2003 Jun 12-18 |
10 |
5 |
11 |
28 |
14 |
30 |
2 |
|
2002 Jun 3-9 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
29 |
16 |
32 |
2 |
|
2001 Jun 11-17 |
6 |
8 |
6 |
23 |
19 |
36 |
2 |
|
Hispanic Women |
|||||||
|
2003 Jun 12-18 |
7 |
12 |
12 |
22 |
13 |
34 |
-- |
|
2002 Jun 3-9 |
6 |
7 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
32 |
4 |
|
2001 Jun 11-17 |
5 |
14 |
8 |
21 |
10 |
40 |
2 |
|
BASED ON -- 717 -- WOMEN; MAXIMUM ERROR ±4 PCT. PTS. |
|||||||
|
BASED ON -- 431 -- NON-HISPANIC WHITE WOMEN; MAXIMUM ERROR ±5 PCT. PTS. |
|||||||
|
BASED ON -- 130 -- BLACK WOMEN; MAXIMUM ERROR ±9 PCT. PTS. |
|||||||
|
BASED ON -- 135 -- HISPANIC WOMEN; MAXIMUM ERROR ±9 PCT. PTS. |
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