A new global survey conducted by the Worldwide Independent Network of Market Research (WIN) reveals stark differences in how men and women perceive gender equality in the workplace.
The annual survey, which included over 33,000 respondents from 39 countries, including 1,000 participants from the UK, highlights a significant gender gap in perceptions of workplace equality.
In 2019, 62 percent of men and 55 percent of women believed that gender equality had been achieved at work. Today, the percentage of men who hold this belief has increased to 68 percent, while the percentage of women remains relatively stagnant at 56 percent.
Overall, the perception of gender equality in the workplace has risen from 58 percent in 2019 to 62 percent now. However, this overall increase masks a growing divide between men’s and women’s views.
Gender equality: What about the gender pay gap?
The survey also reveals shifting perceptions regarding salary equality. In 2022, 21 percent of women in the UK believed their salaries were lower than men’s. This number has now risen to 34 percent. Conversely, more than half of men think that women’s salaries are equal to, or higher than, theirs.
Discrepancies are also evident in perceptions of job opportunities. While 43 percent of women feel they have fewer opportunities than men, only 26 percent of men share this view.
“We’re seeing signs of improvement, but there’s still a long way to go,” says Vilma Scarpino, President of WIN. “The strong divide in perceptions between men and women signals a deep disconnect and lack of conversation around this topic, which should be addressed by individual organisations and the government alike.”
The findings of this survey underscore the need for continued efforts to bridge the perception gap and ensure genuine gender equality in the workplace. While progress is being made, the differing views between men and women highlight the importance of ongoing dialogue and action to address these disparities.
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.