Some National Election Survey data revealed that, increasingly, people are signing onto the notion that women should play an equal role in society. The question asked was this: "Some people feel that women should have an equal role with men in running business, industry and government. Others feel that women’s place is in the home. Where would you place yourself on this scale or haven’t you thought much about this?"
For the visually inclined, Matt Yglesias supplies a handy chart showing the results. Feministing provides some intriguing discussion on the true implications of the data.
I find myself similarly intrigued, and agreeing with sentiments that it’s likely that data seems so hopeful largely because many people know the "right answer" and therefore provided it than may truly feel that way.
And yet, recent stories about the power of women’s philanthropy and the increasing role of women in business and programs supporting their success and the serious run of a woman for our top political office, do make me hopeful regardless of what an opinion poll may (or may not) really be saying.
Because they demonstrate that whether people are ready for it or not, that women are carving out an equal role for themselves everywhere. Just by virtue of their accomplishments, their courage and their skills and abilities.
Yes, there’s a lot of work to be done to ensure equal footing for women (as the posts at Feministing exposing everyday acts of sexism and gender bias every which way can attest), but there’s also a lot of hope to be found in the reality that women–unlike many politicians–have never found it necessary to wait for an opinion poll to turn their way and give them permission to step out and up in the world.
We’re doing it anyway. Ready or not.
