Rethinking equality and the backlash
Speakers: Susan Banducci, University of Birmingham, Hilde Coffé, University of Bath, Jessica Fortin-Rittberger, University of Salzburg and Marta Fraile, Institute for Public Goods and Policy (CSIC)
Abstract
Register to attend an online launch event for a new report on gender attitudes based on analysis of the latest available data from the European Social Survey (ESS).
The report includes analysis of data collected in 24 countries during Round 11 (2023/24) of the survey when 28 questions measuring public attitudes towards gender were fielded for the first time.
In this webinar, the report’s authors will discuss some of the key findings, including the masculine and feminine traits of respondents, the prevalence of sexist attitudes, and perceptions of gender discrimination.
The speakers will also focus on whether respondents think that gender equality is positive for society, and consider the levels of support in each country for public policies that aim to address existing gender inequalities.
A nationally representative sample in each country were specifically asked whether they were in favour or against parliamentary quotas, equal parental paid leave at work, fining businesses with a gender pay gap, and firing employees who make insulting comments to women in the workplace.
In each round of the ESS, groups of external academics are invited to submit proposals for a module of up to 30 questions on a single topic or policy area.
Following an open competition, a module on gender attitudes proposed by a team led by Susan Banducci (University of Birmingham) was fielded in the latest round of the survey.
The questionnaire design team (QDT) also featured Amy Alexander (University of Gothenburg), Hilde Coffé (University of Bath), Jessica Fortin-Rittberger (University of Salzburg), and Marta Fraile (Institute for Public Goods and Policy, CSIC).
Countries included in this latest Topline Results report are Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
The ESS HQ is based at City St George’s, University of London.
About the speakers
Susan Banducci is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Birmingham and fellow of the British Academy and the Academy of Social Sciences. Susan led the questionnaire design team (QDT) who initially proposed the ESS module on gender attitudes. Susan was Professor of Politics at the University of Exeter from 2006-24, including as founding director of the Exeter Q-Step Centre.
Hilde Coffé has been Professor of Politics at the University of Bath since September 2018. Hilde previously held positions at the Free University of Brussels (VUB), Utrecht University and Victoria University of Wellington. Hilde’s main research interests include political behaviour, public opinion, political representation, and gender and politics.
Jessica Fortin-Rittberger is a Professor of Comparative Politics at the University of Salzburg. Jessica’s main areas of research interest include political developments in former communist countries, political institutions and their measurement, women’s political representation, as well as the impact of state capacity on democratisation.
Marta Fraile is a research professor at the Institute for Public Goods and Policy (CSIC). She specializes in the study of public opinion and political behavior from both a gender and comparative perspective. Marta currently leads a project – Unravelling Gender Equality Resistance in Europe – funded by the Spanish State Research Agency (AEI) which involves all members of the module. This project heavily employs the evidence gathered within the module.
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