Older Women Boost Rise in Satisfaction

Gallup polling over the last several years has shown that Americans are generally satisfied with women's status in society, and appear to be growing more satisfied each year. According to Gallup's Mood of the Nation poll conducted each January*, satisfaction with "the position of women in the nation" has risen steadily since 2001, and now ranks behind only that found for "the nation's military strength and preparedness" on the list of 21 areas examined in the poll. A closer look at the data reveals that most groups have grown increasingly satisfied with women's societal status, but that the increases are especially evident among older women.

The poll shows a similar rise in satisfaction levels in each of the past two years. In 2001, 67% of Americans were satisfied with the position of women in the nation, including 19% who were very satisfied. That percentage increased to 71% in 2002 (including 20% very satisfied) and rose again to 75% this year (with 25% of Americans now saying they are very satisfied). The percentage saying they are dissatisfied has dropped from 31% in 2001 to 21% this year.

The rise in satisfaction since 2001 has occurred among both men and women, with women showing a slightly higher increase (from 63% to 72%) than men (from 72% to 78%).

The increase in satisfaction also varies by age, and is especially apparent among older Americans. While there has been little change in the opinions of those under age 50, those aged 50 and older are substantially more likely to say they are satisfied with the position of women in this country. In 2001, 61% of all Americans aged 50 and older were satisfied; that figure jumped to 72% in 2002 and to 77% in 2003, a total increase of 16 percentage points.

More specifically, the age and gender differences seem to be driven mostly by the opinions of older women. According to the 2001 survey, 53% of women aged 50 and older were satisfied with the position of women in the nation. That number spiked to 69% in 2002, and rose even higher in 2003 to 73%. Older men showed a more modest increase of nine percentage points over that time span, compared to 20 points among older women. Younger men showed only a slight four-point increase over the last two years, while younger women showed essentially no change (just a two-point increase).

Differences in the rise in satisfaction with the position of women are also notable among other demographic groups:

• Democrats have shown a substantial increase in their satisfaction levels, while Republicans -- who were mostly satisfied to begin with -- have shown little change. In 2001, 76% of Republicans were satisfied with the position of women, compared with 80% of Republicans today. Over that same period, Democrats' satisfaction levels have risen from 59% to 71%. Independents also showed slight movement, from 67% in 2001 to 73% in 2003.

• Regionally, there has been little change in opinion over the last few years in the Midwest and West. However, satisfaction in the East has increased from 64% in 2001 to 73% now, and the South has increased even more, from 66% to 78%.

• Satisfaction has increased among those at all levels of educational attainment. Satisfaction ratings from those with a high school education or less have increased five points each year, from 67% in 2001 to 77% in 2003. Those with some college education have shown a slightly smaller increase, from 68% to 74%. College grads (including postgraduates) have shown a similar increase, from 67% to 74% over the past two years.

• Married Americans have shown a slight increase, from 71% to 77% satisfied, but unmarried Americans' satisfaction with the position of women is up 11 points since 2001, from 61% to 72%. And while parents of younger children (aged 18 or under) have shown essentially no change in their satisfaction levels since 2001 (from 74% to 72%), those who do not have young children have shown steadily increasing levels of satisfaction, from 64% to 72% to 76%.

Bottom Line

Clearly, Americans are satisfied with women's status in the United States, much more so than the position of "blacks and other racial minorities," of which 56% of Americans are satisfied. The growing increase in satisfaction with the position of women in the United States is most evident among older Americans, especially older women.

*Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,000 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted Jan. 13-16, 2003. For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the margin of sampling error is ±3%.