Poll: Less than half of US women satisfied with their treatment in society

Less than half of U.S. women are satisfied with their treatment in American society in comparison to a majority of men who are satisfied with the treatment of women. 

According a recent poll published by Gallup, 44 percent of women are satisfied with their treatment in society compared to 61 percent of men who said the same. 

Only one third of women, compared to over 60 percent of men believe that women have equal job opportunities. 

However, a majority of both men and women in the U.S. support affirmative action programs for women, according to Gallup’s polling results. 

Seventy-two percent of women support affirmative action programs, compared to 61 percent of men. 

Overall, 53 percent of Americans are dissatisfied with the treatment of women in society, an all-time low recorded by Gallup over the past two decades. 

Seventy-two percent of Americans were satisfied with the treatment of women in society in 2002 and 2003. 

The satisfaction rate received its sharpest decline following the #MeToo movement in 2018, according to Gallup. 

These views vary considerably across different age, race, and party affiliation. 

Younger women, aged 18-49, were the most dissatisfied with women’s treatment at 36 percent, whereas older men, aged 50 and older were the most satisfied with women’s treatment in society at 68 percent, according to Gallup. 

White men were the most satisfied with women’s employment opportunities at 65 percent. Just 21 percent of Black women said that there were equal job opportunities, according to the survey.  

When broken down by party, Republican men were the most satisfied with women’s treatment at 79 percent, and Democratic women had the lowest satisfaction for employment equality at only 13 percent. 

The survey was conducted June 1 – July 5, from a random sample of 1,381 adults aged 18 and over. It has a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points.