Leger is proud to be a part of the Worldwide Independent Network of Market Research (WIN), an organization of different market researchers around the world that develops quality insights around the world. Multiple times a year, all WIN members conduct research on various subjects that interest the global population. International Women’s Day is March 8th and WIN, along with Leger, conducted surveys on gender equality, sexual harassment,household chores, and more. Leger conducted the study in the United States and Canada.
The summary of findings is as follows:
- Household chores are still being done by women
Despite 69% of people globally believing household equality has definitely or to an extent been achieved, the distribution of housework tells a different story. All chores are still predominantly done by women, except for ‘taking out the rubbish’ (the only thing done more frequently by men in 23 out of 39 countries; 56% men versus 53% women), and ‘groceries’ which is shared by both genders (46% men versus 49% women). ‘Laundry’ (in all countries, done more by women) and ‘Cooking’ (in 38 out of 39 countries done by women) showed the biggest gender gap at 27%. This is a stark contrast to high-end cuisine, where renowned chefs have been men historically. The findings underscore that traditional gender roles still dominate in domestic responsibilities.
Even in countries where gender equality is perceived as more advanced, housework remains unevenly distributed – just to a lesser degree. The smallest gender gaps are in Sweden (0.7%), the US (-2.5%), Norway (-2.7%), and Canada (-3.2%). On the opposite extreme are Pakistan where the gap is a staggering -50.7%, Indonesia (-48%), Vietnam (-28.1%, despite ranking highest in positive perception of household equality at 92%), the Philippines (-28%), and Turkey (-26.3%) who report the widest disparities.
- Perceptions of gender equality do not translate to household behaviour
Perceptions of gender equality at home globally have slightly improved compared to 2024, but this shift is largely driven by men, while women remain less optimistic. People’s views on gender equality at home and in politics across the world remain consistent across age groups this year (varying by just 1% in positive views at home, and just 2% in politics across ages 18 to over 65)However, there is a negative correlation between age and positive perception that gender equality has been achieved at work. 63% of 18 to 24 year-olds globally believe it has been achieved, while only 50% of those over 65 do. All fields (at home, at work, in politics) generally increase with education, rising from 63% positive sentiment for home equality among those with no or basic education to 70% for those with a master’s degree or PhD. Interestingly, Vietnam (92%) and Thailand (90%) rank highest for perceived household equality, surpassing countries with strong gender equality reputations like Norway (80%) and Finland (71%).
However, when comparing these perceptions to actual household chore distribution, there is near-zero correlation (using Spearman analysis). This suggests that subjective beliefs about gender equality – whether at home, work, or in politics – do not reflect real-life behaviour. While Japan, which ranks lowest in gender equality perceptions in all fields, shows alignment between perception and household task division, countries like Pakistan, Indonesia, and Vietnam – despite their high rankings in perceived equality – have the largest gender gaps in housework. Conversely, Poland reports lower confidence in gender equality yet ranks well in shared domestic responsibilities. This disconnect underscores the need for further research on what influences perceptions of gender equality – how societal, cultural or economic factors affect perceptions, or whether the country’s historical trajectory regarding equality plays a role in shaping responses.
- Concerns linger amidst decreased violence against women
Women reporting experiences of physical and/or psychological violence globally dropped from 20% in 2024 to 14% this year. However, this decline is partly due to the inclusion of countries with lower violence rates, such as China and Thailand (where 97% and 90%, respectively, answered ‘no’ when asked if they’ve suffered violence), Slovakia and Norway (88% of women reported no), while Nigeria – the highest-ranking country for violence against women in 2024 – did not participate this year. Similarly, reports of sexual harassment have fallen from 10% to 7%, influenced by the same factors.
Both violence and harassment are strongly age-related, with younger women most affected – a persistent trend since 2019. Amongst women aged 18–24, 18% report experiencing violence, and 16% have faced sexual harassment in 2025. These figures drop significantly as women age, with women over 65 reporting at 5% and 1%, respectively.
Country-specific trends further highlight the complexity of these issues. In Turkey, reports of violence increased from 13% in 2024 to 18% this year. There has been growing awareness following publicised femicides and public outcry, potentially influencing their perception. Meanwhile, Brazil demonstrates how policy efforts can drive change. Reports of violence among women fell from 31% to 19%, and sexual harassment from 20% to 10%, following initiatives such as reinstating the Ministry of Women in 2023, relaunching 24/7 women’s hotlines and women’s houses, and enacting over 10 new women’s rights laws.
Brazil’s example is particularly relevant for Latin America, where five of the top 15 countries for reported violence against women and seven of the top 15 for women reporting sexual harassment are located. Argentina ranks highest for violence at 39%, while Mexico leads in sexual harassment reports at 28%. The data underscores the importance of sustained efforts to protect women’s rights and ensure progress is not only perceived but also reflected in lived experiences.
