Categories: Germany

Just 13% of Germans believe that gender equality has been fully achieved

While the majority of German consumers believe that gender equality is important, just 13% feel it has been fully achieved in the country, a survey by Ipsos has found.

According to the survey, close to two fifths of Germans state that gender equality is personally important to them, with 67% of women and 49% of men sharing this view.

In terms of progress towards gender equality, meanwhile, just over half (51%) of men believe that ‘enough has already been done’ to promote equality for women, while just 35% of women share this view.

Two fifths (39%) of Germans believe that too much is expected of men today to promote equality, which is up eight percentage points on 2019. Some 49% of men agreed with this statement, compared to 29% of women.

Leadership roles

In terms of leadership, more than half (51%) of Germans believe that putting more women in leadership positions in both politics and business would benefit society. This view is shared by 59% of women and 42% of men.

Elsewhere, some 53% of women believe that putting women in top roles is essential for achieving greater gender equality, while only 37% of men share this sentiment.

Household responsibilities

In terms of household responsibilities, over two fifths (43%) of respondents view housework and caregiving as tasks for both sexes, although around half (49%) believe it is still primarily a woman’s role.

Some 13% of Germans believe that men are ‘less masculine’ if they stay at home and look after the children, with 18% of men holding this view, compared to 9% of women.

Overall, some 54% of respondents now see parental leave as a responsibility for both parents, up from a time when it was primarily associated with mothers.

Ipsos’ Global Advisor survey was conducted between December 20, 2024, and January 3, 2025, and included 24,269 participants worldwide, with 1,000 respondents from Germany aged 16-74. Read more here.

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