The ‘We the Women’ survey reveals that despite facing a global backlash against women’s rights, 85 per cent of the 25 000 women surveyed across 185 countries express willingness to contribute to advancing their rights.
An overwhelming majority — 60 per cent — of women believe that women’s representation in leadership roles in their respective countries will improve over the next decade. Moreover, more than two-thirds of the women worldwide assert the necessity for enhanced representation in leadership positions at both national and global levels to influence the future. An overwhelming 85 per cent of women identify themselves as advocates for women’s rights.
The survey reveals widespread optimism among women regarding a range of issues, even amidst the world’s concurrent pressing challenges, conflicts, and crises. For women, climate and conflict are the top concerns. The survey also reveals a widespread dissatisfaction with international collaboration in addressing global challenges. Only 19 per cent believe countries are adequately cooperating to resolve conflicts, 21 per cent to tackle economic insecurity, and 30 per cent to address gender inequality — highlighting a perceived lack of effective multilateral action.
WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP
The survey revealed that a large majority of women polled around the world are willing to contribute to efforts aimed at advancing women’s rights and participation in government.
The We the Women survey reveals that despite facing a global backlash against women’s rights, 85 per cent of the women expressed willingness to contribute to advancing their rights.
Women are optimistic about their representation in leadership roles in their respective countries. 60 per cent believe that it will improve over the next decade. Moreover, more than two-thirds of the women worldwide assert the necessity for enhanced representation in leadership positions. They believe this is essential at both national and global levels to influence the future.
An overwhelming 85% of the respondents consider themselves to be ‘women’s rights advocates,’ which is true across every region – 87% in Africa, 81% in Asia, 77% in Eastern Europe, 90% in Latin America, and 85% in the West.
OPTIMISM OVER PESSIMISM
In the midst of global crises and turmoil, and even amid a global backlash on women’s rights and participation, women are a strong force for optimism and positive change. A solid majority (57%) expect their quality of life to improve over the next five years, while only 9% expect it to worsen. Younger women are 20 points more positive than older women about their future.
There is a strong sense among the women surveyed that there has been some progress in their own lives. Overall, 61% say that their own “quality of life is better than” it was five years ago. Only 10% say they are worse off, and 23% are not sure.
Younger women (under 35) are much more likely to feel that their quality of life will be better in the next five years (63% to 43% for the group of older women).
BARRIERS FOR CHANGE
Although women are a force for positive change, they continue to face barriers that might prevent them from realizing their full potential and contributing to their communities and countries.
Mental health is a major issue for almost half of the women worldwide. A disproportionate burden of domestic and care work is also reported as a major issue for 40% of women, which would prevent them from being better off in the next 5 years.
WOMEN AND THE SDGs
Among the SDGs, women consider health and education as significant prerequisites for achieving global goals. In a record year for elections around the world, women rank living in peaceful countries, where justice prevails and institutions are strong, as one of the top three priorities.
SDG 3 on Good Health and Well-being – is ranked among the top three by 40% of women, SDG 4 on Quality Education – by 38% of women, and SDG 16 – Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions – by 38% of women.
KEY ISSUES AFFECTING WOMEN NOW
Around half of the women worldwide report that climate change, economic insecurity, and gender inequality significantly affect them today. Lack of access to technology is reported as an issue by only a quarter of women globally.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND CONFLICT ON WOMEN’S MINDS FOR THEIR FUTURE
Women around the world expect war and climate change to be two major challenges that will increasingly affect them in the next decade.
More than half of women surveyed – and 70% of women in Eastern Europe – are affected by armed conflict or anticipate being affected by war in the next decade.
86% of women respondents are affected by climate change or anticipate being affected by it in the next decade, with foreseen impacts on their health and in terms of natural disasters. When asked about the extent to which key issues affect women now versus the next decade, what is most significant is the dramatic increases in concern over climate change (9 points) and war and conflict (10 points). When it comes to climate change, women expect to be most impacted in terms of their health and in relation to natural disasters.