In 2022, a Pew Research Center study, titled How Indians View Gender Roles in Families and Society, sheds light on Indians’ perceptions of gender equality, traditional roles, and discrimination.
The survey, conducted in 2019-2020, reveals both progress and challenges in achieving gender equity in India.
About 23% of Indians say there is “a lot of discrimination” against women in their country, while 16% of Indian women reported experiencing gender discrimination within the last year. In particular, India’s southern states like Telangana and Tamil Nadu show greater awareness of gender discrimination, with 44% and 39% of respondents, respectively, perceiving widespread gender bias, compared to just 6% in northern states like Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Notably, 52% of respondents from Assam reported high levels of discrimination against women.
The study highlights that violence against women is seen as a major issue, with three-quarters of adults recognizing it as a “very big problem” in Indian society. To address this, 51% of respondents believe it’s more important to teach boys to respect all women, rather than placing the onus on girls to behave “appropriately.” However, 26% believe that the responsibility for safety lies with women themselves.
On a positive note, Indians largely support equal rights for women, with 80% agreeing that it is “very important” for women to have the same rights as men. This sentiment crosses religious lines, with 81% of Hindus and 76% of Muslims supporting gender equality. The survey also shows broad acceptance of women in political leadership, with 55% believing men and women make equally good political leaders, and 14% saying women make better leaders than men.
Yet, traditional views persist when it comes to employment. An overwhelming 80% agree that when jobs are scarce, men should have more rights to employment than women, including 56% who strongly agree with this statement. This view is most prevalent in highly religious communities, with 64% of Muslims and 59% of men favoring male job preference.
The report also explores regional differences, with South Indians being less likely to favor male job preference than those in the Hindi Belt. The findings provide a detailed look into India’s evolving views on gender roles, highlighting both significant strides and areas where traditional attitudes still hold sway.
