What Women Want in 2019
A HuffPost/Yahoo!/CARE Survey
March 2019
Millions of women in America want more: More pay, more opportunities for women to achieve
positions of power and more efforts to ensure equal rights for women.
Marking Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, a national survey for
HuffPost, Yahoo! and CARE finds continued challenges in accomplishing these goals,
accompanied by frustration among many American women with the status quo.
More than 50 years after the Equal Pay Act was passed, for example, three-quarters of women
see pay differences between men and women working the same job as a problem in this country,
with almost half calling it a “serious” problem. Further, when asked about the biggest pressures
facing women today, unequal pay is the top volunteered answer.
About three-quarters (73 percent) also see bias against women being in positions of power, with
half seeing a high level (a great deal or a good amount) of such bias. That runs counter to most
preferences: Sixty-two percent think having more women in powerful positions would be a good
thing for the country. (Most of the rest respond neutrally, rather than negatively.)
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Most broadly, 56 percent of women see gender-based discrimination as a very serious or serious
problem in the United States. And nearly half, 46 percent, think efforts to ensure equal rights for
women in this country haven’t gone far enough. Thirty-four percent think they’ve been about
right, while far fewer, 17 percent, think those efforts have gone too far.
Many of these views are highly partisan and ideological in nature, with some additional gaps by
race or ethnicity, education and age.
The random-sample telephone survey of 1,008 women, produced for HuffPost, Yahoo! and the
humanitarian aid organization CARE by Langer Research Associates, covers a range of other
issues, including views on sexual harassment, work situations, life pressures and the distribution
of household chores.
Among other results:
Forty-two percent of women (the equivalent of more than 50 million individuals), think
men “have it easier” than women in the United States.
Another 42 percent think female politicians in the U.S. usually are held to a higher
standard than male politicians.
In line with previous surveys, 53 percent of women say they’ve personally experienced
unwanted sexual advances that they felt were inappropriate. Four in 10 think recent
attention on the issue of sexual harassment hasn’t gone far enough.
Thinking globally, 68 percent say American women should play a role in trying to reduce
the gender-based discrimination that occurs in many parts of the world, and 61 percent
say they personally should have a role in such efforts. Fifty-eight percent want the United
Nations involved; 56 percent, all Americans (women and men alike). Numerically last on
the list, 53 percent see such a role for the U.S. government, with a vast partisan gap.
Women’s issues aren’t women’s only concern. While, as noted, 56 percent call gender-
based discrimination a serious problem, many more, 74 percent, say the same about racial
discrimination in the United States. Eighty-five percent of black, Hispanic and other
nonwhite women see race-based discrimination as a serious problem, vs. 68 percent of
white women – and 66 percent of nonwhite women call it “very” serious, compared with
35 percent of white women. A racial/ethnic gap in seeing gender-based discrimination as
a very serious problem also is present, but more muted, 37 vs. 18 percent, respectively.
In terms of workplace issues, 82 percent of employed women say male and female employees
are treated about equally where they work. That said, those who perceive bias are much more apt
to say it favors men in their workplace than women, 14 percent vs. 4 percent.
A quarter of employed women think their work situation would improve if there were more
women in leadership positions at their workplace. About as many, 23 percent, would prefer to
work for a supervisor who’s a woman – but 20 percent prefer a male supervisor. (That said,
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women with a male supervisor are among those most likely to perceive bias against women
achieving positions of power in the United States.)
Sixty-four percent of women did not try to negotiate their pay the last time they were hired for a
job. Half say that’s because they were satisfied with the offer, but four in 10 cite a negative
reason: because they weren’t given a chance to negotiate (22 percent), felt unprepared to do so
(10 percent) or were afraid of losing the offer (7 percent).
Of those who did negotiate, 71 percent say doing so was generally successful.
On the home front, among those who live with a partner, 53 percent say they share household
chores and responsibilities about equally. /Among the rest, women are much more apt to say they
handle more chores (36 percent) than to say their partner does (10 percent).
Regardless of the distribution of household responsibilities, seven in 10 like things the way they
are – and 77 percent say their partner shows enough appreciation for the share of chores and
responsibilities they handle. One in five, though, says their partner is under-appreciative.
Field work for the survey was conducted Jan. 21-30, 2019, by Issues & Answers of Virginia
Beach, Virginia, with 71 percent of interviews via cell phones, 29 percent via landlines. Results
are detailed in the sections below, with full questions and topline results in Appendix A. All
differences described in this report have been tested for statistical significance
HuffPost note: A random quarter of survey respondents were asked if they’d be willing to
answer follow-up questions from a reporter for HuffPost or Yahoo. Fifty-five percent responded
positively; their first names and phone numbers are provided in a separate callback file.
Equal Pay and Equal Opportunities
Just two in 10 women think gender-based pay inequity is not a problem in the United States.
Instead just short of half, 47 percent, see this as a serious problem, and 29 percent call it a
problem albeit not serious.
More than seven in 10 women across most demographic groups think equal pay is a problem.
But there are sharp differences by partisanship and ideology. Nine in 10 women who identify
themselves as Democrats or liberals call pay inequity a problem, vs. about six in 10 Republican
or conservative women. (Democrats outnumber Republicans among women, 40 percent vs. 25
percent, with the rest calling themselves independents. That said, essentially equal numbers are
liberals, 29 percent, or conservatives, 28 percent, with moderates making up the rest.)
The gap is especially large in terms of seeing pay inequity as a “serious” problem – 63 percent
among Democrats and 64 percent among liberals, more than double the shares of Republican or
conservative women who hold this view. At the sharpest, it’s 77 percent among women who call
themselves strong liberals vs. 23 percent among strong conservatives.
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The gap is echoed in 2016 vote preference – 68 percent of women who supported Hillary Clinton
call gender-based pay inequity a serious problem, vs. 23 percent of those who voted for Donald
Trump. (Women report having backed Clinton over Trump by 12 percentage points, 50-38
percent, about matching the 13-point margin in 2016 national exit poll results, 54-41 percent.)
There’s also a racial/ethnic difference: Fifty-six percent of women who are black, Hispanic or
otherwise nonwhite think the gender gap in pay is a serious problem, compared with 43 percent
of white women. This, too, reflects politics; 56 percent of nonwhite women are Democrats, vs.
33 percent of white women.
In terms of equal rights for women generally, eight in 10 women overall think efforts have not
gone far enough (46 percent) or have been about right (34 percent). Thinking they’ve not gone
far enough peaks among strong liberals (77 percent), Clinton voters (67 percent) and Democrats
(65 percent).
Again, nonwhites are more apt than whites to think overall equal rights efforts haven’t gone far
enough, 56 vs. 41 percent, as are college graduates (52 percent) vs. non-college graduates (43
percent). This view also is held by 69 percent of those who think pay inequity between women
and men is a serious problem, compared with a third of those who think it’s a problem but not a
serious one and just 17 percent of those who think it’s not a problem.
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Conversely, thinking that efforts to ensure equal rights have gone too far is most common among
strong conservatives, Trump voters and Republicans (36 percent in each group). Just about two
in 10 in these groups think efforts to achieve gender equality in rights haven’t gone far enough.
Efforts to Ensure Equal Rights for Women in This Country Have…
Not Gone
Far Enough
Been About
Right
Gone Too
Far
All 46% 34% 17%
College graduates (33%) 52 31 16
Non-college graduates (67%) 43 34 17
Whites (64%) 41 37 20
Nonwhites (36%) 56 28 10
Democrats (40%) 65 27 5
Republicans (25%) 21 40 36
Independents (30%) 43 36 16
Liberals NET (29%) 67 24 7
Strong liberals (13%) 77 15 6
Somewhat liberals (16%) 59 32 7
Moderates (32%) 44 39 14
Conservatives NET (28%) 28 40 28
Somewhat conservatives (17%) 34 40 24
Strong conservatives (11%) 18 42 36
There’s a connection between these attitudes and women’s sense of whether or not men “have it
easier.” Among those who think men have it easier, 67 percent say efforts to ensure equal rights
have not gone far enough. This falls to 31 percent of those who don’t think men have it easier.
Differences in views on whether or not men have it easier than women again largely are
grounded in political and ideological preferences. Three-quarters of strong liberals think men
have it easier, vs. 58 percent of women who are “somewhat” liberal, 44 percent of moderates and
22 percent of conservatives. It ranges from 54 percent of Democrats to 42 percent of
independents and down to 25 percent of Republicans. And 59 percent of Clinton voters think
men have it easier, vs. 27 percent of Trump voters.
Fifty-four percent of women with $100,000-plus household incomes and half of college
graduates think men have it easier, vs. 41 percent of those less well-off and 38 percent of non-
graduates. Education and income are linked, and liberalism rises among the college educated.
Numbers in the single digits across demographic and political groups think women have it easier
than men, with two exceptions: Trump voters and strong conservatives, even then just at 10
percent alike.
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Women in Power
Partisan divisions are especially sharp in views of whether it would be a good thing for the
country to have more women in positions of power. Eighty-three percent of Democrats and 88
percent of liberals say so (peaking at a near-unanimous 98 percent of strong liberals) compared
with 29 percent of Republicans and strong conservatives alike.
There’s an apparent connection with these partisan preferences for women in power and election
outcomes. In the U.S. Senate, female Democrats outnumber female Republicans by 2-1, 17 vs. 8.
In the House it’s a vast 7:1 ratio – 89 Democratic women, 13 Republicans.
More Women in Positions of Power Would Be…
A Good
Thing
A Bad
Thing
Neither Good
Nor Bad
All 62% 5% 30%
Northeast (18%) 61 2 34
Midwest (21%) 58 8 32
South (38%) 57 6 32
West (23%) 74 3 21
Whites (64%) 55 7 34
Nonwhites (36%) 74 2 23
Democrats (40%) 83 1 16
Republicans (25%) 29 10 57
Independents (30%) 62 6 27
Liberals NET (29%) 88 1 11
Strong liberals (13%) 98 0 1
Somewhat liberals (16%) 79 1 18
Moderates (32%) 58 4 35
Conservatives NET (28%) 40 12 45
Somewhat conservatives (17%) 46 8 43
Strong conservatives (11%) 29 19 49
The path to power is not always seen as clear. About half of women (52 percent) think there’s a
great deal or a good amount of bias against women being in powerful positions, peaking among
liberals (77 percent), Clinton voters (76 percent), Democrats (70 percent), blacks (65 percent),
women with graduate degrees (65 percent) and those with male supervisors (64 percent).
Perceptions of bias reach 68 percent among those who see more women in power as a good
thing, vs. 28 percent among those who don’t think it matters and just 17 percent of those who
think it’d be a bad thing.
Regarding female politicians in particular, 42 percent think they’re held to a higher standard than
male politicians; 19 percent think they’re held to a lower standard; a third, the same standard.
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Clinton voters, liberals, Democrats and college graduates are much more likely than their
counterparts to think female politicians are held to a higher standard.
Sixty-eight percent of those who see female politicians as held to a higher standard say this is
both a personal standard and a professional one. The rest are slightly more apt to see a higher
personal standard (17 percent) than a higher professional one (12 percent).
Role models offer the prospect of a more level playing field. Seven in 10 women see an even
mix of women and men portrayed as role models, with the rest dividing about evenly between
seeing more men or more women presented this way. Notably, twice as many women younger
than age 40 see mostly female role models (23 percent) than women 40 and older (11 percent).
Addressing Global Discrimination
As noted, 68 percent say American women should play a role in trying to reduce gender-based
discrimination in many parts of the world. That peaks at 83 percent among liberals, 82 percent of
Clinton voters, 80 percent of post-graduates and 77 percent of Democrats and nonwhites alike.
It’s 75 percent among women younger than 40, compared with 54 percent of seniors.
Fewer, 61 percent, feel that they personally should have a role in such efforts, with similar
patterns across groups. Thinking that one should get personally involved is 37 points higher
among liberals than conservatives, 30 points higher among Democrats than Republicans and 31
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points higher among 18- to 39-year-olds than seniors. Regional differences also emerge, with 71
percent of Westerners thinking they themselves should play a role, vs. about six in 10
Midwesterners and Southerners and just over half, 55 percent, of women in the Northeast.
There are similar differences across groups in views that the United Nations and all Americans
(women and men) should play a role, expressed by 58 and 56 percent, respectively.
In trying to reduce gender-based discrimination faced by
women in many parts of the world…
Should Play
a Role
Best Left
to Others
American women, generally 68% 26%
You, yourself 61 34
The United Nations 58 33
Americans, generally 56 36
The United States government 53 39
The sharpest partisan differences emerge in whether the U.S. government should play a role in
trying to reduce gender-based discrimination globally. Democratic women are 37 points more
apt than Republican women and 16 points more likely than independents to hold this view. And
it’s 71 percent among Clinton voters, vs. 29 percent among Trump voters.
Sexual Harassment
Indicating the resonance of the Me Too movement, 83 percent of American women see sexual
harassment of women as a problem in this country, with 69 percent calling it a serious problem.
Fifty-three percent personally have experienced inappropriate, unwanted sexual advances.
Women who’ve had these experiences are more likely to see sexual harassment as a serious
problem, 78 percent, compared with 59 percent of those who haven’t.
There are age gaps: Ninety-six percent of 18- to 29-year-olds call sexual harassment of women a
problem, vs. 85 percent of 30- to 49-year-olds and 77 percent of those 50 and older. Similarly,
calling it a “serious” problem declines by 23 points moving from 18-29s to those age 50-plus.
Among other differences, white and nonwhite women are similarly likely to call sexual
harassment a problem, but nonwhite women are more apt to call it a serious problem, 80 percent
vs. 63 percent of white women. And at least nine in 10 Democrats (91 percent), Clinton voters
(95 percent) and liberals (96 percent) see it as a problem, vs. two-thirds of Trump voters, 69
percent of conservatives and 70 percent of Republicans.
There also are differences in the self-reported experience of unwanted sexual advances among
some demographic groups – lower among seniors, higher among better-off and college-educated
women, and higher among liberals and moderates (64 and 56 percent) vs. conservatives (41
percent).
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Among all women, 23 percent say recent attention on the issue of sexual harassment has led
them to see past experiences they’ve had in a different way; women under 40 are especially
likely to say so. Specifically among women who have experienced sexual misconduct, this rises
to 35 percent.
Sixty-eight percent overall say recent attention on this issue either hasn’t gone far enough (41
percent) or has been about right (27 percent), while an additional 27 percent say it’s gone too far.
Those who have experienced inappropriate sexual advances are slightly more apt than others to
say recent efforts haven’t gone far enough, 45 vs. 36 percent.
Reflecting their perception of the issue as a problem, thinking that recent attention on sexual
harassment hasn’t gone far enough peaks among those age 18-29 (54 percent), nonwhite women
(53 percent), liberals (50 percent), Clinton voters (50 percent), Democrats (49 percent) and those
who’ve experienced inappropriate sexual advances (45 percent).
At Work
Workplace woes are modest: Among the 58 percent of women who work for pay, half are very
satisfied with their jobs, with an additional 38 percent somewhat satisfied, leaving just 11 percent
dissatisfied. As noted, about eight in 10 think female and male employees are treated about
equally where they work. And a majority thinks that having more women in leadership positions
at their workplace wouldn’t make a difference in their work experience.
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There are some differences within groups. White women are more likely to say they’re very
satisfied with their job (56 percent) compared with nonwhites (40 percent). Strong job
satisfaction also is lower among women who think men “have it easier” in general. And women
who have experienced unwanted sexual advances (at work or elsewhere) have lower strong job
satisfaction, 44 percent, vs. 59 percent of those who haven’t had such experiences.
Liberals are 16 points less likely to report high satisfaction with their work than conservative
women, 45 vs. 61 percent, and there’s a 13-point gap between Clinton voters and Trump voters,
47 vs. 60 percent.
By contrast, some job-specific attributes don’t make a wholesale difference: There’s no gap in
job satisfaction based on supervisor gender or whether or not a woman negotiated her last salary
– or, for that matter, on the basis of salary itself.
In terms of work supervision, women express essentially equal preferences for a female vs. a
male supervisor, 23 vs. 20 percent, with most expressing no preference. Preference for a male
supervisor is highest among Trump voters (34 percent), conservatives (32 percent) and
Republicans (29 percent), while those most apt to prefer a female supervisor include liberals (36
percent), Democrats (34 percent), Clinton voters (33 percent) and those under 40 (31 percent).
A quarter think that having more women in leadership positions at their workplace would make
it a better place for them to work. That includes 32 percent of women who currently have a male
supervisor, 11 points more than it is among those with a female supervisor, 21 percent.
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Echoing group differences in the preference to work for a female supervisor, liberals, Democrats,
Clinton voters and those age 18-39 are more likely than their counterparts to think more women
in leadership positions would make their workplace a better place to work. Overall, 55 percent of
those who’d prefer a female supervisor think having more women in leadership positions would
improve their workplace, vs. just 8 percent of those who’d prefer a male supervisor.
On the question of negotiating pay, education is a strong factor: Forty-eight percent of women
with postgraduate degrees say they negotiated their pay the last time they took a job, compared
with 37 percent of those with at least some college education and just 18 percent of those with a
high school degree or less. Relatedly, women with incomes of $50,000 or more annually are 19
points more apt than those with lower incomes to have negotiated their pay, 42 vs. 23 percent.
There’s also a political difference: About equal numbers of Democrats (35 percent) and
independents (33 percent) negotiated their pay the last time they took a job. That declines to 24
percent of Republican women.
Biggest Pressures
Survey respondents were invited to offer comments on the biggest pressures facing women
today. The most common answers involved employment: 21 percent cited equal pay; 19 percent,
balancing family/home with work/career; and 11 percent, limited or unequal career or
promotional opportunities. A sampling of these responses includes the following:
“Quality in pay and opportunities to advance in jobs.”
“Being passed up for promotion.”
“I think, practically, women do not make the same pay in the same job as men. And also
paid maternity leave; lack of sick days for women if children are sick. We are still in a
society where women are not equal in work situations.”
“We are still expected to be the caretakers and breadwinners.”
“Raising children and keeping a family together. The state of the country requires two
incomes, so the mother doesn’t get to stay home with the kids as much as she wants.”
“There’s too much pressure applied to women in regards to caregiving. Women are
required to work and provide. There’s not a balance.”
“Just trying to do it all – trying to raise a family and work. There’s not enough time in the
day.”
“Having a job, doing housework, and looking good while doing it.”
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Other pressures include family and/or child care; inequality/discrimination; sexual harassment,
violence and assault; societal pressures and standards; money and financial issues; and different
treatment in the workplace. Examples:
“Raising children – the responsibility still remains with women.”
“How about the fact that rape is considered to be your fault and not the guy who couldn’t
control himself.”
“Struggle between trying to be independent in the workplace and in general. There’s a
push for women to find a husband and settle down.”
“Trying to make a living to support their kids and not being paid enough.”
“Equality, that’s all.”
Five percent said women aren’t facing big pressures, and 3 percent suggested that women
themselves are the issue. “I think that a lot of women hold themselves back, not because men
hold them back, but that women hold themselves back. Women have created crutches and
roadblocks,” said one. Another, “I think it’s other women pitching fear and promoting
dissatisfaction. I think it’s appalling what other women have done to other women and what they
have done to men.”
At Home
Fifty-four percent of women report living with a spouse or partner, 97 percent of whom are men.
Most are relatively content with the extent to which their partner joins in household chores and
the amount of appreciation they receive for their work around the house.
About seven in 10 women living with a partner like the division of household labor the way it is
now, although that leaves one in four who’d like their partner to do more. Similarly, 77 percent
say their partner shows enough appreciation; one in five, not enough.
This partly reflects the fact that 53 percent say they share chores/responsibilities about equally
with their partner. Still, 36 percent of women say they handle more household chores than their
partner, with 28 percent doing much more. Among those who handle a greater share of the
chores, half (49 percent) want their partner to do more.
Notably, among women who say men “have it easier,” 48 percent also say they do more of the
chores, compared with 27 percent of those who see no difference between men and women in
having an easier path in life.
Midwestern women are most apt to say they do more of the chores, Southerners least so, 47 vs.
30 percent. Doing most of the share also is lowest among conservative women, 30 percent, vs.
liberals or moderates.
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Demographic Breakdown
Adult women divide almost evenly between those age 18-39 (37 percent) and those 40-64 age
group (40 percent), with seniors comprising the rest, 23 percent. There are some sharp
demographic differences among these groups, most strikingly by race and ethnicity: Nonwhites
account for 52 percent of women age 18-39, compared with 29 percent of 40- to 64-year-olds
and 21 percent of those 65 or older. Hispanics, in particular, account for 24 percent of the
younger cohort, compared with 7 percent of seniors.
Differences in partisanship follow. Just 17 percent of 18- to 39-year-olds identify themselves as
Republicans, vs. 32 percent of seniors; instead 36 percent of younger women are political
independents, vs. 24 percent of those 65 and older. (Similar shares of women consider
themselves Democrats, 38 to 43 percent across age groups.)
In terms of ideology, women under 40 are 13 points more likely than those 65 and older to call
themselves liberals, 38 vs. 25 percent, and far less likely to describe themselves as conservatives,
36 percent of seniors vs. just 18 percent of those 18-39. Moderates are distributed similarly
across age groups.
By education, a third of women are college graduates, including 12 percent with postgraduate
degrees. Two-thirds don’t have a four-year college degree, including 37 percent who haven’t
gone beyond high school. Having completed at least a four-year college education peaks, at 41
percent, among those age 40-64.
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Demographic Breakdown of Women
All 18-39
(37%)
40-64
(40%)
65+
(23%)
College graduates NET 33% 31 41 24
Postgraduate degree 12 9 16 10
Bachelor’s degree 21 22 25 14
Non-college graduates NET 67 69 59 76
Some college 29 30 31 25
High school or less 37 38 29 51
<$50,000 51 60 37 62
$50,000-$99,999 30 30 33 25
$100,000+ 19 10 30 13
Northeast 18 20 17 17
Midwest 21 20 21 23
South 38 36 37 42
West 23 24 25 18
Whites 64 48 71 79
Nonwhites NET 36 52 29 21
Black 12 15 12 9
Hispanic 15 24 10 7
Democrats 40 43 38 41
Republicans 25 17 28 32
Independents 30 36 29 24
Liberals NET 29 38 24 25
Strong liberals 13 15 13 10
Somewhat liberals 16 23 11 14
Moderates 32 33 35 27
Conservatives NET 28 18 34 36
Somewhat conservatives 17 11 21 19
Strong conservatives 11 5 12 17
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Appendix A: HuffPo/Yahoo!/CARE Survey Topline Data Report
This HuffPo/Yahoo!/CARE survey was conducted by telephone Jan. 21-30, 2019, in English and
Spanish, among a random national sample of 1,008 women age 18 and older, with 71 percent
reached on cell phones and 29 percent on landlines. Results have a 3.6 percentage point error
margin for the full sample, including design effects due to weighting. Field work by Issues &
Answers of Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Full results follow. Unless otherwise noted, *= <0.5 percent.
1. All things considered, who do you think has it easier in our country these days? –
(men), (women) or is there no difference?
No No
Men Women difference opinion
1/30/19 42 5 49 4
2. Do you think efforts to ensure equal rights for women in this country have (gone
too far), (not gone far enough), or have they been about right?
Gone too far Not gone far enough Been about right No opinion
1/30/19 17 46 34 4
3. How big a problem do you think [ITEM] is in our society today? Is it a very serious
problem, a serious one, a problem but not a serious one or not a problem?
1/30/19 - Summary table
-- Serious problem -- Problem, but Not a No
NET Very Serious not serious problem op.
a. Gender-based discrimination 56 25 32 24 16 3
b. Race-based discrimination 74 46 28 15 10 2
4. What do you think are the biggest pressures facing women today? (Up to 3 responses)
1/30/19
Unequal pay 21
Balancing family/home with work/career 19
Limited or unequal job/advancement opportunities 11
Family/child care 10
Inequality/discrimination (general) 10
Sexual harassment/violence/assault 9
Societal pressure/standards 8
Money/financial issues 6
Different treatment in workplace 5
Women themselves 3
Health care 2
Reproductive rights 2
Sexualization/objectification 2
Donald Trump 2
Lack of respect (general) 1
Other 19
No pressures 5
No opinion 7
Refused 3
16
5. Do you live with a spouse or partner, or not?
Live with spouse/partner Do NOT live with spouse/partner Don’t know
1/30/19 54 45 1
6. [IF LIVES WITH PARTNER] Is your spouse or partner a man, a woman, or a different
gender identity?
Man Woman Different gender Don’t know
1/30/19 97 3 * *
5/6 NET:
--------- Lives with spouse/partner --------- Do NOT live with Don’t
NET Man Woman Diff. gender don’t know spouse/partner know
1/30/19 54 52 1 * * 45 1
7. [IF LIVES WITH PARTNER] When it comes to household chores and responsibilities, do
you do more than your spouse or partner, does your spouse or partner do more than you,
or do you share this about equally? IF RESPONDENT DOES MORE: Do you do handle much
more of the household chores and responsibilities, or somewhat more?
- Do more than spouse/partner - Spouse/partner Share No
NET Much more Somewhat more does more equally opinion
1/30/19 36 28 8 10 53 *
8. [IF LIVES WITH PARTNER] Would you like your partner to do (more) in terms of
household chores and responsibilities, do (less), or do you like things as they are?
More Less Like things as they are No opinion
1/30/19 25 2 71 2
9. [IF LIVES WITH PARTNER] Do you think your partner does or does not show enough
appreciation for the share of household chores and responsibilities that you handle?
Does show enough Does not show enough No opinion
1/30/19 77 20 2
10. Do you think there is bias against women being in positions of power in this
country, or do you think there’s no such bias? [IF BIAS] Is there a great deal of such
bias, a good amount or just some?
--------- More bias ---------- --- Less/no bias --- No
NET Great deal Good amount NET Some No bias opinion
1/30/19 52 31 21 45 21 24 3
11. Do you think having more women in positions of power would be a (good) thing for
the country, a (bad) thing, or neither good nor bad?
Good Bad Neither good nor bad No opinion
1/30/19 62 5 30 3
12. Thinking about politics, do you think female politicians in the United States are
usually held to a (higher) standard than male politicians, a (lower) standard, or are
they held to the same standard?
17
Higher Lower Same No opinion
1/30/19 42 19 32 6
12a. [IF HIGHER STANDARD] Do you think that’s more of a higher (professional
standard), more of a higher (personal standard), or more of both equally?
Professional standard Personal standard Both equally No opinion
1/30/19 12 17 68 2
12/12a NET:
-------------- Higher standard --------------- Lower Same No
NET Professional Personal Both Unknown standard standard op.
1/30/19 42 5 7 29 1 19 32 6
13. Do you work for pay, or not?
Yes, I work for pay No, I do not work for pay Don’t know
1/30/19 58 41 1
14. [IF WORK] Are (both men and women) employed where you work, or are (only other
women) employed there?
Solo business/
Both men and women Only other women no coworkers Don’t know
1/30/19 89 7 4 0
15. [IF WORK] When it comes to your job, how satisfied do you feel at the present
time? Very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
----- Satisfied ----- --- Dissatisfied ----
NET Very Somewhat NET Somewhat Very No opinion
1/30/19 88 50 38 11 8 3 1
16. [IF BOTH MEN AND WOMEN EMPLOYED AT WORKPLACE] Generally, where you work, are
(male) employees treated better than (female employees), are (female) employees
treated better than (male employees), or are both treated about equally?
Male employees treated Female employees treated Treated No
better than female better than male equally opinion
1/30/19 14 4 82 1
17. [IF BOTH MEN AND WOMEN EMPLOYED AT WORKPLACE] For statistical purposes, is your
current supervisor (a woman), or (a man)?
A woman A man No supervisor Don’t know
1/30/19 51 43 4 3
18. [IF WORK] All else being equal, would you prefer to work for a supervisor who’s (a
woman), or a supervisor who’s (a man)?
A woman A man No opinion
1/30/19 23 20 56
18
19. [IF WORK] More generally, do you think that having more women in leadership
positions at your workplace would make it a (better) place for you to work, a (worse)
place, or would it make no difference?
Better Worse Make no difference No opinion
1/30/19 26 9 63 2
20. In general, thinking about differences in pay between (men) and (women) working
the same jobs – do you think this is a serious problem in this country, a problem but
not a serious one, or not a problem?
-------- Problem ---------- Not a No
NET Serious Not serious problem opinion
1/30/19 76 47 29 21 3
21. The most recent time you were hired for a job, did you try to negotiate your pay,
or not?
Yes No Never worked for pay Owns own business Don’t know
1/30/19 31 64 1 2 1
22. [IF NEGOTIATED] Would you describe your negotiation as generally (successful) or
as generally (unsuccessful)?
Successful Unsuccessful No opinion
1/30/19 71 28 2
23. [IF DID NOT NEGOTIATE] Why did you not try to negotiate your pay? Is it mainly
because (you were satisfied with the offer), (you thought you would lose the offer if
you asked for more), (you were not given the chance to negotiate), or (you didn’t feel
prepared to negotiate)?
Satisfied Thought would Not given Didn’t feel (VOL) Not (VOL) No
w/ offer lose offer chance prepared negotiable Other op
1/30/19 50 7 22 10 2 6 3
24. Do you think sexual harassment of women is a problem in this country or not? IF
PROBLEM: Is it a serious problem, or not serious?
--------- Problem --------- Not a No
NET Serious Not serious problem opinion
1/30/19 83 69 14 15 2
25. We know this is a sensitive topic, but for statistical purposes only, have you
personally ever experienced unwanted sexual advances that you felt were inappropriate,
or not?
Yes No No opinion
1/30/19 53 47 1
Compare to:
Have you personally ever experienced unwanted sexual advances from a man that you felt
were inappropriate, or not? This can be in any circumstance, whether or not work-
related.
Yes No No opinion
19
10/15/17* 54 46 *
*ABC News/Washington Post poll
26. Generally speaking, do you think recent attention on this issue (has not gone far
enough), has been about right, or (has gone too far)?
Not gone About Gone No
far enough right too far opinion
1/30/19 41 27 27 5
1/18/18* 32 33 29 5
*ABC News/Washington Post poll
27. Has recent attention on this issue led you to see any past experiences you’ve had
in a different way, or not? If you’d prefer not to discuss this, just say so.
Yes, see in No, do not see Prefer not Haven’t had No
different way in different way to discuss such experiences opinion
1/30/19 23 59 8 7 3
27a. [IF DIFFERENT WAY] Has thinking about your past experiences in a different way
been helpful or unhelpful to you?
Helpful Unhelpful No opinion
1/30/19 79 12 9
27/27a NET:
Do not Prefer
-------- See different way -------- see not to Haven’t No
NET Helpful Unhelpful Unknown different discuss had exp. op.
1/30/19 23 19 3 2 59 8 7 3
28. Are the people you most often see portrayed as role models mostly (women), mostly
(men), or about an even mix of the two?
Women Men Even mix No opinion
1/30/19 15 13 70 2
29. Should [ITEM] play a role in trying to reduce the gender-based discrimination
faced by women in many parts of the world, or is this best left to others?
1/30/19 - Summary table
Should play Best left No
a role to others opinion
a. The United States government 53 39 8
b. The United Nations 58 33 9
c. Americans, generally 56 36 8
d. American women, generally 68 26 7
e. You, yourself 61 34 5
30. Are you registered to vote at your present address, or not?
Yes No DK/Refused
1/30/19 85 14 *
31. Did you happen to vote in the last presidential election, when Donald Trump ran
against Hillary Clinton, Gary Johnson and Jill Stein, or did you skip that one?
20
Yes, voted No, skipped Don’t know
1/30/19 76 23 1
32. [IF VOTED] Which candidate did you vote for? Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Gary
Johnson, Jill Stein, or someone else?
Donald Hillary Gary Jill Someone
Trump Clinton Johnson Stein else Don’t know
1/30/19 38 50 1 1 7 3
*** END ***