Lifestyle

Nearly half of women face gender discrimination almost every day

By
Social Links for Sarah Kocher, SWNS
Published March 2, 2020, 2:11 p.m. ET

Sixty-three percent of Americans believe there will always be gender discrimination in the US, according to new research.

The study asked 2,000 Americans about their opinions on gender inequality and found half of the 1,000 women surveyed reported facing gender discrimination nearly every day.

Of the 1,000 men surveyed, 72 percent agreed that women still face gender discrimination nearly every day.

SWNS

Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Vitamin Angels ahead of International Women’s Day, the survey found 59 percent of women polled felt they would have a more difficult time in a job interview if they were pregnant.

And 65 percent of all respondents agree that women are questioned more in-depth than men in job interviews.

The survey also asked those who were parents if they ever experienced a moment of “parent-shaming” and found nearly half reported having been on the receiving end of this discrimination.

Forty-four percent of moms surveyed reported a stranger has been rude to them when breastfeeding in public.

Another four in 10 moms have received dirty looks when they enter a restaurant with their child.

For dads surveyed, 54 percent said they’ve experienced a stranger being rude to them when they had to change their child’s diaper in public because the restroom did not have a changing table.

Besides these feelings of discrimination, 69 percent of women feel more empowered today than ever before.

The top feelings of empowerment included finding your passion in life (49 percent), becoming a parent (48 percent) and feeling confident in yourself (44 percent).

Finding empowerment may be as easy as eating healthier and getting some exercise in, as eight in 10 women also shared they feel more empowered when they feel healthy.

“Healthy women are empowered women and the cornerstone to thriving societies,” said Howard Schiffer, Vitamin Angels Founder & President. “Yet, maternal and women’s health remains a global public health problem. In order to help close the gender inequality gap, we must prioritize women’s health.”

Respondents also shared where they receive their empowerment from and 60 percent said their mother was their top inspiration.

Seven in 10 women surveyed also shared uplifting fellow women is a top priority for them.

Nearly three-quarters of respondents agreed that women’s empowerment is a critical aspect to achieving gender equality.

“By giving the gift of nutrition to millions of women around the world, we’ve seen first-hand the amazing way in which health empowers women to stand up for what they believe in and reach their full potential as human beings,” said Schiffer. “The generational impact healthy, empowered women have on their children and their communities is astounding — this holds true here in the US and around the globe.”

Top five inspiration women

  1. Mother: 60 percent
  2. Teacher: 44 percent
  3. Grandmother: 28 percent
  4. Aunt: 30 percent
  5. Sister: 28 percent

Top 15 most empowering moments in life

  1. Finding your passion in life: 47 percent
  2. Becoming a parent: 47 percent
  3. Feeling confident in yourself: 44 percent
  4. Inspiring others: 43 percent
  5. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle: 43 percent
  6. Finding someone you can share your life with: 39 percent
  7. Taking care of your mental health: 38 percent
  8. Getting a promotion: 36 percent
  9. Learning acceptance and patience: 36 percent
  10. Becoming a grandparent: 34 percent
  11. Giving back to your community: 33 percent
  12. Experiencing new cultures: 31 percent
  13. Becoming a godparent/guardian: 30 percent
  14. Traveling to new places: 30 percent
  15. Becoming an aunt/uncle: 28 percent

Top 10 mom-shaming moments

  1. A stranger was rude to me while I was trying to calm down my child while they were having a tantrum: 51 percent
  2. A stranger was rude when I had to change my child’s diaper in public because I did not have access to a restroom: 49 percent
  3. A stranger made a rude comment to me regarding my child: 47 percent
  4. A stranger was rude to me when bottle feeding my child in public: 44 percent
  5. A stranger was rude to me when breastfeeding in public: 44 percent
  6. I received passive-aggressive advice from a relative: 44 percent
  7. I received unsolicited advice from a stranger: 44 percent
  8. A stranger gave dirty looks in a restaurant when I brought my child: 41 percent
  9. I received rude comments regarding how I dress my child: 36 percent
  10. I received rude comments regarding what I feed my child: 35 percent