Poll: almost 50% of young Belarusians believe career growth is equally important for men and women

The figure was announced by Alesya Solovei, the Chairperson of the Council of Young Scientists at the Belarusian National Academy of Sciences’ Sociology Institute, as she commented on the results of a recently held nationwide poll

“Identification of gender stereotypes in Belarusians’ minds is among the key directions of the National Action Plan for Ensuring Gender Equality in Belarus for 2021-2025. Gender roles performed by men and women in society and the family have a direct impact on the socialisation of the younger generation, on the professional, social and family spheres of their life. Gender stereotypes – as well-established patterns – simplify the understanding of social reality, but at the same time they can limit human potential, including professional self-realisation and productivity of women and men,” the specialist said.

As noted by Ms. Solovei, a nationwide poll conducted in April 2023 concluded that young people adhere to traditional views on women's family roles. At the same time, there is a certain degree of disagreement with gender stereotypes regarding the career opportunities of men and women.

“57.9 percent of respondents agree that the woman’s main mission is family and children (61.7 percent of them are young men and 54 percent are ladies). Every third representative of the Belarusian youth (31.5 percent) disagrees with this statement, and the number of ladies here is twice as high as that of young men: 41.2 and 22 percent, respectively,” Mr. Solovei added.

Almost half of the respondents – 46.5 percent – disagree with the opinion that career professional growth is more important for men than for women (here, the share of ladies is twice as high as the share of young men: 60.4 and 33 percent, respectively). Slightly fewer respondents – 42.6 percent – still agree with this stereotype. At the same time, its support depends on gender: 51.8 percent of men and 33.2 percent of women.