Among those who say men have it easier, more cite pay gap than any other example
When those who say men have it easier than women in our country these days are asked in what ways this is so, most of the reasons focus on inequality in the workplace: 43% specifically mention that men are paid more than women and 29% cite greater employment opportunities or preferential treatment for men. About one-in-ten or fewer say men have fewer family or household responsibilities (10%), get more respect (9%), have more political power (9%), have better health care (7%), don’t experience sexual harassment to the same extent as women (4%) or don’t have to worry as much about their physical safety (4%). (The question was open-ended and respondents could give multiple answers.)
For the most part, men and women who say men have it easier offer similar explanations for their answer, but a larger share among women than among men cite differences in pay (47% vs. 37%). Still, the gender pay gap tops the list for both men and women who say things are easier for men in our country these days.
Democrats who say men have it easier than women are far more likely than their Republican counterparts to cite higher wages when asked in what ways men have it easier: 46% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents say this, compared with 31% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents. Democrats are also more likely than Republicans to volunteer that men have more political power than women (12% vs. 2%). Other answers are mentioned about equally by Democrats and Republicans who say men have it easier than women.
In their own words: In what ways would you say MEN have it easier in our country these days?
“They on average make more money than women for the same job. They control the country and most businesses.” Woman, 55 years old
“You simply need to look at the percentages of male CEOs and relative salaries to see there is likely a systematic advantage to being male.” Man, 29
“Because most of them don’t have to work outside the home and take care of the children and everything else a woman normally does. A woman’s work is never done.” Woman, 65
“Women are most often the primary caregiver for children, even when working full time. Women in general tend to earn less than men.” Man, 38
“A working mother has to go to work and then deal with the kids, homework, laundry, etc. Men come home and kick back. I know it’s supposed to be changing, but I haven’t seen it.” Woman, 62
“Men are not second-guessed like women are in the workplace.” Man, 29
“They have a higher pay scale and don’t deal with discrimination and aren’t sexualized constantly.” Woman, 39
“They are paid more even when the jobs are identical. They seem to be taken more seriously than women. Women usually carry the load when it comes to family life.” Woman, 61
“Men have traditionally held seats of power in government and the corporate world. You don’t see women making law on health issues related to men, but men certainly pass legislation regarding birth control, abortion or community health organizations.” Man, 58
“They still make more money for doing the same work and don’t have to worry about losing a job in order to start a family.” Woman, 21
“Men dominate almost all of the top-paying professional fields.” Woman, 46
“Male privilege allows men to be free to move about in public without threat of harassment. When they speak, they are assumed to have some authority without having to prove it. They still earn more money than women, on average, even in comparable jobs.” Woman, 54
“They aren’t held to the same standards as women and there is still this common misconception that certain jobs can or should only be held by men. For example, when hearing the words ‘doctor,’ ‘lawyer,’ ‘police officer,’ ‘judge,’ ‘CEO,’ ‘engineer,’ etc., most people think of men holding that position. This makes it harder for women to be considered for these positions and makes them less likely to apply or work in related fields.” Man, 30
“They generally don’t have to question if their gender is holding them back.” Man, 55
Job opportunities and preferential treatment top the list for those who say women have it easier than men
When those in the relatively small share of Americans who say that women have it easier in this country today are asked to elaborate on their answers, 30% point to more job opportunities or preferential treatment in employment as ways in which women have it easier – far more than offer any other example.
About one-in-ten or fewer say laws or the courts favor women (9%), women are always believed when they make accusations of sexism, sexual harassment or sexual assault (8%), men aren’t respected or are portrayed unfairly in the media (5%), women have more choices when it comes to work and family (5%), women have more access to government assistance (4%), or women have more educational opportunities (3%). (Due to small sample sizes, it is not possible to analyze responses across demographic or partisan groups.)
In their own words: In what ways would you say WOMEN have it easier in our country these days?
“If there’s a choice between a man and a woman for a promotion, I feel the woman would be given preference.” Woman, 60 years old
“Lower standards for the same positions in order to get more women for those positions.” Man, 53
“Women have many legal advantages. High-school-age girls, especially minorities, get more scholarships. Everyone is on the prowl for perceived injustice and attempts to elevate women of all ages. Not so much for males.” Man, 46
“They are given preferential treatment in every way. If they ‘feel’ slighted or decide to be vindictive they scream sexual harassment, whether true or not, with no consequence to themselves for a false claim.” Man, 56
“They are given so much. They are catered and pandered to, and taught they are entitled to things.” Woman, 34
“They can choose to be taken care of by getting married or to be independent and have a career for themselves. I think it is still required for a man to provide for himself and family if he has one.” Man, 46
“Take a look at any television show. Women are allowed to slap and belittle men constantly on TV. Never the reverse. That is real life today.” Man, 59
“If something goes wrong they can cry sexism, or just cry. I think that there is a sympathy thing, but also too many women bash men for being men.” Woman, 43
“It seems like men have trouble being men in the workplace. People are too offended by everything. Also, there is no affirmative action for being male.” Man, 35
“In divorces they wind up with the kids and the man continues to support the woman and children while trying to maintain a household for themselves, ultimately creating a great financial burden on the male.” Man, 47
“Compared to white, heterosexual men, who have no laws or workplace policies to protect them from racial, sexual, and gender discrimination, women, particularly non-white women, fare better in the workplace, education institutions, and socially.” Woman, 67
“Having worked in a large organization, all the rules are tailored to their benefit. With fewer women than men putting career first, there is a demand to push women ahead to achieve ‘numbers,’ but not enough qualified to do it, honestly. Many highly qualified women simply choose raising a family as a priority over a money-oriented career, so they are not in the workplace.” Man, 64
Women are more than twice as likely as men to say they have experienced gender discrimination
About four-in-ten women (43%) say they have personally experienced discrimination or been treated unfairly because of their gender; 18% of men say this has happened to them.
Among women, those with more education are more likely to say they have experienced gender discrimination. About six-in-ten women with a bachelor’s degree or more education (57%) say this has happened to them, compared with 45% of those with some college and 31% of those with a high school diploma or less education. In contrast, among men, similar shares across educational levels say they have experienced discrimination or been treated unfairly because of their gender.
Democratic women are far more likely than their Republican counterparts to report that they have experienced discrimination or been treated unfairly because of their gender. About half of women who identify with the Democratic Party or lean Democratic (51%) say this has happened to them, compared with 34% of Republican or Republican-leaning women. Among men, the opposite pattern emerges: Republican men are somewhat more likely than Democratic men to say they have experienced gender discrimination, although relatively small shares of both groups say this has happened to them (20% vs. 14%, respectively).
For men and women who say they have experienced gender discrimination, work is the most common setting
About four-in-ten women who say they have faced gender discrimination (38%) cite experiences related to hiring, pay or promotion; 26% say they have had their abilities questioned or were treated as if they weren’t smart because of their gender; and one-in-ten cite sexual harassment or catcalling.3
Across generations, Boomer women who say they have experienced gender discrimination are particularly likely to cite situations related to hiring, pay or promotion as examples: About half (51%) cite these as examples of ways in which they have been discriminated against, compared with 36% of Gen X women and 26% of Millennial women.4
Men who say they have faced discrimination or have been treated unfairly because of their gender are five times as likely to mention experiences related to hiring, pay or promotion (35%) as they are to say people have made assumptions about their personality because of their gender (7%), the second most cited example among men who say they have personally experienced gender discrimination.
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