Topics At A Glance: Women and Work

Better If Man Works And Woman Takes Care Of Family

Full search results

(Now I'm going to read several more statements. As I read each one, please tell me whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree with it.)...It is much better for everyone involved if the man is the achiever outside the home and the woman takes care of the home and family.

Note: Asked of 2/3 sample
General Social Survey 2010, [Mar, 2010]

Note: Asked of 2/3 sample
General Social Survey 2008, [Apr, 2008]

Please tell me whether you basically agree about...it is much better for everyone involved if the man is the achiever outside the home and the woman takes care of the home and family?

Note: Asked of one third sample
Faith Matters Survey 2006, [Jun, 2006]

Equality In Hiring, Promotions, Advancement

Full search results

As you may know, the US (United States) Senate is considering legislation that would make it easier for women to sue for wage discrimination. Democrats say the bill would promote fairness in the workplace, while Republicans say it would encourage too many unjustified lawsuits. Who are you more likely to trust on this issue, the Democrats or the Republicans?

United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll, [May, 2012]

Now, according to data from the US (United States) Census bureau, women working full-time in 2010 earned, on average, just over 77 cents for every dollar earned by a man working full-time. Economists call this the Wage Gap. This means that although women represent more workers than men, they make less money. From your experience and observation, please tell me which of the following best explains the wage gap between what women and men earn in the workplace....Women are not treated as equals to men. Compared to men, many women are often seen as incapable of doing certain jobs, or seen as less valuable, or seen as supplemental income earners who do not need to make as much money, or they are not included in the same social networking that enables men to move up. Women make different choices than men in the workplace. Many women choose or accept jobs that are lower-paying, or are not as aggressive as men in pursuing raises or promotions, or they are less likely to take on riskier or more physically demanding jobs that often pay better. Women have different family and home life priorities and responsibilities than men. Many women leave jobs or scale back their hours to have children or care for family members, giving up years of experience. Also, in addition to working, women dedicate more time than men to taking care of children and the home.

Allstate/National Journal Heartland Monitor Poll, [Mar, 2012]

Do you feel that women in this country have equal job opportunities as men, or not?

Gallup Poll, [Jun, 2007]

Equal Pay For Equal Work

Full search results

Allstate/National Journal Heartland Monitor Poll, [Mar, 2012]

Now I'm going to read you a list of proposals that some people have recommended to Barack Obama and the Congress. For each one, please tell me how important it is that Obama and Congress enact this proposal. Is it extremely important to enact, very important to enact, just somewhat important to enact, not at all important to enact or would you actively oppose that proposal?...Make it easier to challenge pay discrimination in the workplace to make sure women are paid the same as men who perform the same job.

Sample: National voters including oversamples of unmarried women, blacks, Latinos, and youth
Women's Voices. Women Vote Survey, [Jan, 2009]

(I'm going to read a list of challenges some women may face in the next decade. As I read each one, please tell me if you think it will be a major obstacle to progress for women like you in the next 10 years, a minor obstacle, or not an obstacle for women like you in the next 10 years.) What about...unequal pay? Will this be a major obstacle to progress for women like you in the next 10 years, a minor obstacle, or not an obstacle?

What Women Want Survey, [Oct, 2008]

Discrimination Against Women in the Workplace

Full search results

Now I am going to read you a short paragraph about policies and actions by Republicans in Congress. After I read this paragraph, I will ask you questions about your reactions. Republicans in Congress recently attempted to allow employers to discriminate against women by denying health care coverage for birth control for any reason. The Republican majority in Congress proposed slashing 810 billion dollars over the next 10 years from Medicare and Medicaid that many women rely on for their health care, cut funding for job training programs and education nearly in half and opposed a law cracking down on employers who pay women less than men for the same job. Does this paragraph raise very serious doubts about supporting Republicans, serious doubts, minor doubts or no real doubts about supporting Republicans?

Sample: Likely voters in Republican/Democratic held battleground districts
Note: Asked of Form B half sample of those in Republican districts
Democracy Corps/Women's Voices. Women Vote Poll, [Mar, 2012]

(If Form A read:) (Now I am going to read you a short paragraph about policies and actions by Republicans in Congress. After I read this paragraph, I will ask you questions about your reactions. Republicans in Congress recently attempted to allow employers to discriminate against women by denying health care coverage for birth control for any reason. The Republican majority in Congress passed a bill to eliminate funding for Planned Parenthood, which provides abortions, as well as basic health care and cancer screenings to millions of American women and attempted to redefine rape to deny crime victims access to emergency birth control. Does this paragraph raise very serious doubts about supporting Republicans, serious doubts, minor doubts or no real doubts about supporting Republicans?) (If Form B read:) (Now I am going to read you a short paragraph about policies and actions by Republicans in Congress. After I read this paragraph, I will ask you questions about your reactions. Republicans in Congress recently attempted to allow employers to discriminate against women by denying health care coverage for birth control for any reason. The Republican majority in Congress proposed slashing 810 billion dollars over the next 10 years from Medicare and Medicaid that many women rely on for their health care, cut funding for job training programs and education nearly in half and opposed a law cracking down on employers who pay women less than men for the same job. Does this paragraph raise very serious doubts about supporting Republicans, serious doubts, minor doubts or no real doubts about supporting Republicans?) After hearing these statements, would you say you are more committed to voting this November (2012) or less committed to voting this November? (If More/Less committed, ask:) (Is that much or somewhat more/less?)

Sample: Likely voters in Republican/Democratic held battleground districts
Note: Asked in Republican districts
Democracy Corps/Women's Voices. Women Vote Poll, [Mar, 2012]

(((Form 1, read:) The term 'transgender' applies to people who live out their gender in a way that does not match the sex listed on their original birth certificate, or who physically change their sex.) Please tell me whether you completely agree, mostly agree, mostly disagree or completely disagree with each one.)...Congress should pass laws to protect transgender people from job discrimination.

PRRI/RNS Religion News Survey, [Aug, 2011]

Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

Full search results

Recently (2012) presidential (election) candidate Herman Cain has been battling claims that he sexually harassed four women more than a decade ago. Cain says the claims are false....How would you rate the job Herman Cain has done responding to the allegations--excellent, good, only fair or poor?

Sample: National registered voters
Fox News Poll, [Nov, 2011]

Do you think sexual harassment of women in the workplace is a problem in this country or not?

ABC News/Washington Post Poll, [Nov, 2011]

Is it (sexual harassment of women in the workplace) a serious problem, or not serious?

Note: Asked of those who said sexual harassment of women in the workplace is a problem in this country (64%)
ABC News/Washington Post Poll, [Nov, 2011]

Women In Politics

Full search results

(Recently (2012) presidential (election) candidate Herman Cain has been battling claims that he sexually harassed four women more than a decade ago. Cain says the claims are false.)...Based on what you know, do you believe the women making the accusations against Herman Cain are more likely to be motivated by politics, by the possibility of financial gain, or are they simply motivated by a desire for fairness?

Sample: National registered voters
Fox News Poll, [Nov, 2011]

Tell me if you agree or disagree with this statement: Most men are better suited emotionally for politics than are most women.

Note: Asked of 2/3 sample
General Social Survey 2010, [Mar, 2010]

As you may know, our country has 8 women governors out of 50, and 16 women Senators out of 100. There may be many reasons that there are fewer women than men in high political offices. Here is a list of some of them. For each, please tell me whether you think it is a major reason, a minor reason, or not a reason why there are fewer women in politics....Many Americans aren't ready to elect a woman to higher office.

Pew Social Trends Poll, [Jun, 2008]

Work and Family

Full search results

Now that Barack Obama has won another term in office and we have a Republican Congress, which two or three of the following do you believe should be the first priority of Congress and the President?...Protect Social Security and Medicare from significant cuts, invest in education, including hiring 100,000 more teachers, more Pell Grants for college and investing in early childhood education, support a grand bargain to reduce the deficit where Democrats agree to cuts in spending and Republicans agree to tax increases for the wealthy, invest in an 'all of the above' energy strategy that exploits domestic oil, gas and coal, but also expands new, clean energy like wind, solar and bio-fuels, pass a new jobs bill that increases exports and rebuilds roads, bridges and economic infrastructure, crack down on companies that pay women less money if they perform the same job as their male colleagues, protect Planned Parenthood and women's health care choices, including the right to choose to have an abortion, raise taxes on top earners to help reduce the deficit and pay for important programs, protect programs for the vulnerable, including food stamps and Medicaid, fully implement the health care reform law

%
33		Protect Social Security and Medicare from significant cuts
33		Invest in education, including hiring 100,000 more teachers, more Pell Grants for college and investing in early childhood education
30		Support a grand bargain to reduce the deficit where Democrats agree to cuts in spending and Republicans agree to tax increases for the wealthy
29		Invest in an 'all of the above' energy strategy that exploits domestic oil, gas and coal, but also expands new, clean energy like wind, solar and bio-fuels
25		Pass a new jobs bill that increases exports and rebuilds roads, bridges and economic infrastructure
18		Crack down on companies that pay women less money if they perform the same job as their male colleagues
14		Protect Planned Parenthood and women's health care choices, including the right to choose to have an abortion
12		Raise taxes on top earners to help reduce the deficit and pay for important programs
12		Protect programs for the vulnerable, including food stamps and Medicaid
12		Fully implement the health care reform law
8		All (Vol.)
4		None (Vol.)
3		Don't know/Refused

Sample: National voters
Note: Asked November 6-7, 2012 only
Democracy Corps/Women's Voices. Women Vote Poll, [Nov, 2012]

Which one or two of the following do you believe the federal government could do right now to help your own financial situation?...Cut taxes for the middle class, make college more affordable, provide mortgage and foreclosure relief so people could hold on to their homes, provide government jobs for the unemployed, make sure women are paid the same as men who perform the same job, increase the minimum wage, extend unemployment benefits, provide more affordable child care

%
37		Cut taxes for the middle class
22		Make college more affordable
16		Provide mortgage and foreclosure relief so people could hold on to their homes
16		Provide government jobs for the unemployed
12		Make sure women are paid the same as men who perform the same job
9		Increase the minimum wage
7		Extend unemployment benefits
5		Provide more affordable child care
6		All (Vol.)
2		Other (Vol.)
9		None (Vol.)
4		Don't know/Refused

Sample: National voters including oversamples of unmarried women, African-Americans, Latinos, and youth
Democracy Corps Poll, [Apr, 2010]

Now thinking just about the past year, I'm going to read you a list of people who did things that diminished their standing with the public. Which one of these people most disappointed you?...John Edwards for having an affair while his wife is being treated for cancer, Tiger Woods for having extramarital affairs, Chris Brown for hitting and abusing his girlfriend Rihanna, the Balloon Boy parents for carrying out a hoax, the reality television family of Jon and Kate for exposing their affairs and divorce, David Letterman for having extramarital affairs with women who work for him, Alex Rodriguez for using steroids to enhance his performance in baseball...(If More than one, ask:) Well, if you had to choose just one, which would you say most disappointed you?

%
33		John Edwards for having an affair while his wife is being treated for cancer
16		Tiger Woods for having extramarital affairs
15		Chris Brown for hitting and abusing his girlfriend Rihanna
11		The Balloon Boy parents for carrying out a hoax
6		The reality television family of Jon and Kate for exposing their affairs and divorce
4		David Letterman for having extramarital affairs with women who work for him
4		Alex Rodriguez for using steroids to enhance his performance in baseball
8		None (Vol.)
3		Not sure

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll, [Dec, 2009]

From the Archives

Did you work outside the home full-time, part-time, or not at all?... After marrying and before you had children?

Note: Married women who have had children (24%)
General Social Survey 1988, [Feb, 1988]

(Please tell me the extent to which you agree or disagree with each statement....Agree strongly, agree somewhat, disagree somewhat, disagree strongly)...It's OK for moms to work outside the home if they work part-time.

TIPP/Christian Science Monitor Poll, [Apr, 2012]

Do you approve or disapprove of a married woman earning money in business or industry if she has a husband capable of supporting her?

Note: Asked of 2/3 sample
General Social Survey 1998, [Feb, 1998]