Poll: Women Strive To Find Balance

48% Say It's OK To Work And Raise Family, 33% Disagree

(CBS) 
CALLING SOMEONE A FEMINIST IS ... (Among Women)

A compliment
Now
15%

2005
12%

1999
9%

An insult
Now
14%

2005
17%

1999
22%

Neutral
Now
65%

2005
64%

1999
58%

In a CBS News Poll conducted last May a dictionary definition of the word feminist was included in a poll question, and in that instance, most women said they considered themselves a feminist. In that poll, a feminist was described as “someone who believes in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes”, and 65 percent of women identified themselves as a feminist.

A FEMINIST IS SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES IN SOCIAL, POLITICAL, AND ECONOMIC EQUALITY OF THE SEXES. DO YOU THINK OF YOURSELF AS A FEMINIST OR NOT?(Among women)

May 2005
Yes
65%

No
32%

THE STATUS OF WOMEN: LOOKING AHEAD

Most women think the overall status of women in this country is better than it was 50 years ago, and many think it will improve in the future. Seventy-seven percent of women think the overall status of women is better than it was a half a century ago, and 75% of men agree. Eighty-one percent of women working today say the status of women has improved.

Looking ahead, 47 percent of women think the status of women 50 years from now will be better, but many – 43 percent - think not much will change. Only 5 percent think the status of women will be worse. Younger women are more likely than those who are older to be optimistic about the future status of women.

OVERALL STATUS OF WOMEN (Among Women)

50 Years Ago
Better
77%

Worse
5%

Same
15%

50 Years From Now
Better
47%

Worse
5%

Same
43%