{"id":189434,"date":"2024-10-17T09:55:58","date_gmt":"2024-10-17T13:56:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?p=189434"},"modified":"2026-07-09T15:15:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T19:15:11","slug":"views-of-the-impact-of-changing-gender-roles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/social-trends\/2024\/10\/17\/views-of-the-impact-of-changing-gender-roles\/","title":{"rendered":"4. Views of the impact of changing gender roles"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We asked Americans a series of questions about changing gender roles for men and women. First, we asked if society is too accepting or not accepting enough of men and women who take on roles typically associated with the other gender. On balance, the public thinks society is not accepting enough<\/em> of men and women who do this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Chart<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Overall, 43% of adults say society is not accepting enough of men who take on roles typically associated with women, 19% say society is too accepting of these men and 37% say acceptance is about right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we asked about women who take on roles typically associated with men, the results were almost identical. Some 44% say society is not accepting enough of women who do this, 19% say society is too accepting and 36% say things are about right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Differences by gender<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Women are more likely than men to say that society is not accepting enough of men<\/em> who take on roles typically associated with women (49% vs. 36%), while men are more likely than women to say acceptance is about right (43% vs. 33%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, a higher share of women than men say society is not accepting enough of women<\/em> who take on roles usually associated with men (53% vs. 35%). Again, men are much more likely than women to say things are about right (42% vs. 30%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Differences by party<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Republicans and Democrats have very different views on these issues. On balance, Republicans and Republican-leaning independents are about evenly divided on whether society is too accepting (28%) or not accepting enough (27%) of men who take on roles that are usually associated with women. Some 45% of Republicans say things are about right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Chart<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Democrats and Democratic leaners tilt heavily toward the position that society is not accepting enough of men who take on women\u2019s roles. About six-in-ten Democrats (59%) say this, while only 10% say society is too accepting of these men and 30% say things are about right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The partisan pattern is very similar on the question of how society treats women who take on roles typically associated with men. Republicans are divided over whether society is too accepting or not accepting enough of these women, while a majority of Democrats say society is not accepting enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Across gender groups within the parties, Republican men are the most likely to say that society is too accepting<\/em> of men who take on roles often associated with women (30% say this) and of women who take on roles associated with men (33%). Democratic women are the most likely to say there\u2019s not enough acceptance<\/em> for these men (62%) and women (69%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How have changing gender roles impacted men and women?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Chart<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We also asked Americans about the impact of having more women working outside the home and men more involved in household chores and child care. Overall, the public thinks the changing roles of women and men in our society have been more beneficial for women than for men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to being successful at work:<\/p>\n\n\n\n