Why are women becoming so much more liberal than men? – The Boston Globe
A gender-equality paradox: Women now much more liberal than men The Boston Globe
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Inequality Narrows, but Political Divide Grows Among Men and Women
Introduction
In most wealthy nations, women have been steadily closing the gap with men on several fronts. In the United States, women now earn the majority of the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Women now receive more than half of STEM college degrees, and the proportion of women in the tech sector has risen in recent years, to 35 percent in 2023 from 31 percent in 2019. Among Americans younger than 30, women’s earnings rival or even surpass men’s in many metropolitan areas, including Boston, New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C.
Political Divide Along Gender Lines
This narrowing of gaps between men and women has not translated into cultural values and politics becoming more similar. Recent polls have highlighted increasing polarization along gender lines on various political issues. Since 2014, women younger than 30 have become steadily more left-leaning each year, while young men have remained relatively static in their political views. In 2021, 44 percent of young women in the United States identified as liberal compared with just 25 percent of young men — the biggest gender gap in 24 years of polling.
The Gender-Equality Paradox
One possible explanation for this growing political divide is the gender-equality paradox. Societies with higher levels of wealth, political equality, and women in the workforce show larger personal, social, and political differences between men and women. The wealthier and more egalitarian the country, the larger the gender differences. This pattern exists not just for political ideology but also for various other attributes such as academic preferences, physical aggression, self-esteem, frequency of crying, interest in casual sex, and personality traits.
Explaining the Gender-Equality Paradox
The gender-equality paradox suggests that as societies become relatively more prosperous and equal, people more fully express their underlying traits and preferences. In less affluent and less egalitarian societies, gender differences in physical traits are flattened due to scarcity, while gender differences in psychological traits narrow in response to rigid social expectations. In the most equal nations of the world, people are in a position to express their intrinsic attributes and preferences, leading to larger differences between men and women.
Impact on Political Orientation
The gender-equality paradox may help explain why the gender gap in political orientation has grown among young people. Even among college students, women tend to be more left-leaning than men. The most selective US colleges, where family income tends to be higher and sociopolitical equality is highly prized, exhibit the largest gender gap. As societies become freer and fairer, differences between men and women tend to grow rather than shrink.
Conclusion
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. While progress has been made in narrowing gender gaps in various areas, such as education and employment, the growing political divide between men and women highlights the complexity of achieving true equality. Understanding the gender-equality paradox can provide insights into the underlying factors that contribute to these differences and inform efforts to create a more inclusive and equitable society.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | 5.1 End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere | – Proportion of women and girls subjected to sexual harassment or violence in the previous 12 months – Proportion of women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to physical, sexual, or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | 10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status | – Proportion of population living below the national poverty line, by sex, age, employment status, and geographical location – Proportion of people who believe they have been treated with respect and dignity |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | 16.7 Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels | – Proportion of positions held by women in local governments – Proportion of countries with mechanisms to enhance women’s participation and leadership in decision-making processes at all levels of government |
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
SDG 5: Gender Equality
The article discusses the narrowing gender gaps in educational attainment and earnings in wealthy nations, as well as the increasing polarization along gender lines on political issues. These issues are directly connected to SDG 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
The article also highlights the growing gender gap in political orientation among young people, particularly in higher education settings. This issue relates to SDG 10, which focuses on reducing inequalities within and among countries.
SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
While not explicitly mentioned in the article, the discussion of political polarization along gender lines and the influence of social media platforms relates to SDG 16, which aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere
The article highlights the progress made in educational attainment and earnings for women, but also mentions the increasing polarization along gender lines on political issues. This target addresses the need to eliminate discrimination against women and girls in all areas of life.
Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status
The discussion of the gender gap in political orientation among young people, particularly in higher education settings, relates to the need for social, economic, and political inclusion for all individuals, regardless of their gender.
Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels
While not explicitly mentioned in the article, the discussion of political polarization along gender lines and the influence of social media platforms highlights the importance of inclusive and representative decision-making processes in order to address these issues.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
The article does not explicitly mention specific indicators. However, based on the content, the following indicators can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:
– Proportion of women and girls subjected to sexual harassment or violence in the previous 12 months (related to Target 5.1)
– Proportion of women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to physical, sexual, or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months (related to Target 5.1)
– Proportion of population living below the national poverty line, by sex, age, employment status, and geographical location (related to Target 10.2)
– Proportion of people who believe they have been treated with respect and dignity (related to Target 10.2)
– Proportion of positions held by women in local governments (related to Target 16.7)
– Proportion of countries with mechanisms to enhance women’s participation and leadership in decision-making processes at all levels of government (related to Target 16.7)
These indicators can be used to track progress in achieving gender equality, reducing inequalities, and promoting inclusive decision-making processes.
4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | 5.1 End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere | – Proportion of women and girls subjected to sexual harassment or violence in the previous 12 months – Proportion of women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to physical, sexual, or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | 10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status | – Proportion of population living below the national poverty line, by sex, age, employment status, and geographical location – Proportion of people who believe they have been treated with respect and dignity |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | 16.7 Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels | – Proportion of positions held by women in local governments – Proportion of countries with mechanisms to enhance women’s participation and leadership in decision-making processes at all levels of government |
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Source: bostonglobe.com
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