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Demographic processes constrain global growth in gender egalitarianism
Plamen Akaliyski1, Catherine E Bowen2, Stefan Gehrig3
1Department of Sociology and Social Policy, Lingnan University, 8 Castle Peak Road, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong SAR.
PNAS Nexus
|May 28, 2026
Summary
Global support for gender equality has stalled due to demographic shifts, particularly higher fertility rates among less egalitarian populations. This trend hinders progress in achieving gender equality worldwide.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Demography
- Gender Studies
Background:
- Public support for gender equality is crucial for equal participation in public life.
- Past research on gender equality support is largely limited to Western societies.
- Global trends in gender egalitarianism require broader, cross-cultural investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze global and contextual changes in public support for gender equality between 1995 and 2022.
- To investigate the influence of demographic factors on global gender equality support trends.
- To identify divergences in gender equality support across different societal contexts.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the World Values Survey and European Values Study.
- Analyzed data from 78 countries, representing over 86% of the global population.
- Examined changes in public support for gender equality from 1995 to 2022, considering demographic compositional effects.
Main Results:
- Global public support for gender equality stagnated despite increases in many individual countries.
- A significant divergence in support levels emerged between Western and non-Western societies.
- Demographic factors, including higher fertility rates in less egalitarian regions and among women with less egalitarian views, constrained global growth in gender egalitarianism.
Conclusions:
- Demographic shifts, particularly fertility patterns, play a critical role in shaping global gender equality trends.
- Understanding the interplay between demographic processes and societal views on gender is essential for future research.
- Targeted interventions may be needed to address the stagnation of global gender egalitarianism, considering cultural and demographic contexts.
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