The fourth edition of the Women’s Forum 2023 Barometer, produced with IPSOS, reveals the persistent and growing reality of gender inequality worldwide. Based on the responses of 5,000 citizens from the G7 countries, Australia, China and Korea, this report provides essential insights for advancing gender equality. Anne-Gabrielle Heilbronner, President of the Women’s Forum, presented the many challenges still facing women today on this first morning at the Palais Brongniart.
An acute perception of inequality
66% of respondents believe that gender inequality is widespread, with an increase of 4 points in G7 countries over the previous year.
63% believe that women have fewer opportunities to succeed than men with equal skills, also an increase on the previous year.
Persistent stereotypes and generational challenges
Gender stereotypes persist dramatically, especially among young people.
60% of men aged 25 to 34 are convinced that “you can’t have it all, if you want to be a good mother, you have to be willing to sacrifice part of your professional career”, compared to 52% of all respondents.
59% of men aged 25 to 34 believe in brain differences between men and women, versus 42% for all respondents.
53% of men aged 25 to 34 believe that women are psychologically more fragile, compared to 35% of all men and women.
The importance of resolving inequalities
74% consider resolving inequalities to be a national priority.
75% of men aware of inequalities recognize their potential role in reducing them.
- Real and persistent inequalities
- Women account for 54.6% of the workforce, compared with 66.7% of men.
- Women are more likely to work part-time, with a rate of 21.5% compared to 7.7% for men.
- Wage gaps persist, reaching 16.5% in the G7 countries, Australia, China and Korea, and 12% in the OECD as a whole.
- Women provide 76% of the world’s unpaid work, with significant financial consequences.
- Strong calls for action
- Here is a panorama of the actions proposed and approved:
Health: 89% of those questioned were in favor of guaranteeing the same proportion.
Education and STEM: 82% of respondents are in favor of including an equal number of female and male role models in school textbooks; 78% of respondents are in favor of including mandatory training on unconscious bias in the university curriculum.World of work and business: 88% of those surveyed are in favor of companies funding affordable, quality childcare and elder care; 77% of those surveyed are in favor of disclosing the names of companies where there is a pay gap between men and women with equal skills.
Financial education: 88% of those questioned were in favor of the creation of compulsory courses in schools and high schools to teach boys and girls how to manage a budget; 85% of those questioned were in favor of developing women’s financial culture through training programs and support networks for women.of women and men in clinical trials at every stage of drug development.
85% of those surveyed are in favor of the integration of compulsory courses on gender at all levels of medical, pharmacy and biology studies, and for all paramedical professions.
The Women’s Forum 2023 Barometer goes beyond statistics, issuing a vibrant call to action to combat gender inequality. With hard-hitting data and acclaimed calls to action, it offers a roadmap for meaningful change in society.
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