Understanding Gender Roles in India: Insights from a Pew Research Center Survey of Nearly 30,000 Adults

The Pew Research Center recently conducted a comprehensive survey of nearly 30,000 Indian adults to explore gender roles in Indian society. The survey revealed some interesting findings about the attitudes and beliefs of Indians towards gender roles in the family and society.

According to the survey, while most Indians believe that women and men make equally good political leaders, traditional gender norms still hold sway in domestic settings. The survey found that a majority of Indians agree with the notion that a wife must always obey her husband, with a significant percentage completely agreeing with this sentiment. Additionally, the survey highlighted that while many Indians express egalitarian views towards some gender roles in the home, traditional gender norms still prevail in many aspects of family life.

The survey also revealed that Indians value having both sons and daughters, with most Indians believing it is important for a family to have at least one son and one daughter. However, the survey found that sons are often seen as having greater rights and responsibilities in areas such as inheritance and caring for aging parents.

One interesting aspect highlighted in the survey is the perception of discrimination against women in India. While most Indians do not see a lot of discrimination against women, a significant percentage believe that violence against women is a major national issue. The survey also explored the importance of teaching boys to respect women as a way to improve women’s safety in the community.

The survey further compared India’s gender attitudes with global trends and found that while Indians generally support equal rights for women, they tend to hold more conservative views on gender dynamics in the home and economy compared to people in other countries. The survey also revealed that Indians with a college degree are less likely to hold traditional views on gender roles, and that Muslims in India are more likely than other religious groups to support traditional gender roles.

Overall, the survey shed light on the complex and nuanced attitudes towards gender roles in Indian society, highlighting both progress towards gender equality and the persistence of traditional norms and beliefs. The findings provide valuable insights into the evolving landscape of gender dynamics in India and the challenges that still exist in achieving gender equality.