A new survey conducted by Pew Research has confirmed a well-known but under-researched perception – that it helps to get ahead in the US if you are a man, and it hurts getting ahead in the US if you are a woman.
The Survey
In April 2023, Pew Research surveyed a number of US adults, asking if being a man – i) hurts a lot; ii) hurts a little; iii) neither helps nor hurts; iv) helps a little; or v) helps a lot.
The Results
Since the last time this survey was conducted in 2019 and 2020, Pew say that there has not been a significant difference in the results, meaning that perceptions of whether being a man or a woman helps or hurts have not changed dramatically.
Differences in Demographic Groups
It was reported, however, that there are significant differences among key demographic groups in peoples’ perceptions of whether it is better to be male or female in the US.
Does Being a Man Hurt or Help – What Women Think
67% of women indicated that, in their view, being a man helps a person get ahead in the US at least at little – this includes 48% who think it helps a lot.
Does Being a Man Hurt or Help – What Men Think
By contrast, 52% of men noted that being male helps at least a little, with 28% saying it helps a lot.
Does the Perception Change Between Men and Women of Different Races?
Among white adults, there is a marked gap in perception between men and women of whether it helps to be a man, whereas there is no difference between Black or Hispanic women and men on that topic.
Does Age Matter?
The research finds that women younger than 30 years old are more likely to feel that being a man helps that person get ahead in life – 76% compared to 64% for women older than 30 years old.
There is no difference in perception in men of different age groups.
Education: Perceptions of Being a Man
Women with at least a bachelor’s degree are more likely to say that being a man helps to get ahead in life – 79% compared to 61% of women with some college or less education.
There is no difference in perception in men of different education levels.
What About Politics?
Unsurprisingly the political alignment of those surveyed makes a difference.
43% of Republicans and right-leaning independents say it helps being a man to get ahead in the US, with 34% saying it neither helps or hurts, and 22% saying it hurts.
Comparatively, 77% of Democrats and left-leaning independents say being a man helps in getting ahead in the US.
Gender and Politics
The results also noted that the gender gap is wider among Republican respondents than among Democrats.
54% of Republican women believe that being male helps you get ahead in the US, whereas only 34% of Republican men believe that.
Among Democrats, the majority of both men and women believe that being a man helps you get ahead in the US, but women are more likely than men to respond in this way.
The following slides all refer to people’s perceptions of women.
According to Women, Being a Woman Hurts
58% of women believe being a woman hurts a person’s ability to get ahead in the US, whereas only 40% of men believe this to be true.
Race Perception on Women’s Ability to Get Ahead
In white and Black respondents, women are more likely than men to agree that being a woman hurts one’s ability to get ahead in the US.
Notably, however, there is no difference between Hispanic men and women.
Age in Perception of Women
Generally, younger Americans are more likely to believe that being a woman hurts a person get ahead in the US.
70% of women under 30 hold this view, compared with 55% of women over 30.
50% of men under 30 hold this view, compared with 37% of men over 30.
Education: Perception of Being a Woman
Women with more education are more likely to believe that being a woman hinders one’s ability to get ahead, with 68% of more educated women compared to 53% percent of less educated women agreeing.
There is no difference by education in male respondents.
Gender Gap: Political Perceptions of Being a Woman
Surprisingly, Republican perceptions are almost evenly split between helps (33%), hurts (31%) and neither (35%) on the topic of whether being a woman helps. However, 68% of Democrats believe being a woman hurts when trying to get ahead in the US.
How Politics Divides Perceptions of Women
43% of Republican women vs 21% of Republican men believe that being a woman hurts in getting ahead in the US.
41% of Republican men vs 23% of Republican women believe that being a woman helps in getting ahead in the US.
Democrats’ Perceptions of Being a Woman
A majority of both male and female Democrats believe that being a woman hurts, however, women are more likely to respond as such.
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