Snapshot: Record Unhappiness With Women's Position in U.S.

Nearly four in 10 Americans say they are "very" or "somewhat" dissatisfied with the position of women in the U.S., the highest since Gallup first asked the question in 2001.

Background: The year 2017 turned a sharper focus on women in U.S. society, from the Women's March on Washington to the "Me Too" movement drawing attention to allegations of sexual harassment and abuse, and the "Time's Up" movement's focus on gender equity in show business and business more generally. Gallup's update on a question that asks Americans about their satisfaction with the position of women in society reflects this focus, with a significantly larger percentage now saying that they are dissatisfied than in 2001 to 2008 when these questions were last asked.

U.S. women are substantially more dissatisfied with the position of women in society. Nearly half of women (46%) say they are very or somewhat dissatisfied with their position in society, up from 30% in 2008, when Gallup last asked the question (and the trend's highest point.) Dissatisfaction is also up among men, although at significantly lower levels than among women.

	2008	2018
	%	%
All Americans	26	37
Gender
Men	21	28
Women	30	46
Political Affiliation
Republicans/Leaners	16	16
Democrats/Leaners	34	55
Political Affiliation and Gender
Republican Men	15	15
Republican Women	18	18
Democrat Men	29	43
Democrat Women	38	62
Gallup

More than half of Democrats are dissatisfied with the position of women in the U.S. Fifty-five percent of Democrats and independents who lean Democrat are very or somewhat dissatisfied with the position of women, a 21-percentage-point increase from 2008. On the other hand, 16% of Republicans say they are very or somewhat dissatisfied with the position of women in society, which is unchanged from 2008.

The increase in dissatisfaction with the position of women among Democrats is mostly, but not entirely, driven by Democratic women. Between 2008 and 2018, dissatisfaction among women who are Democrats or lean Democratic nearly doubled, rising from 38% to 62%. Dissatisfaction among men who are Democrats or lean Democratic is also up, but not by nearly as much, increasing from 29% to 43%.