Female positions in the Russian politics have considerably strengthened.
MOSCOW, October 26, 2017. The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of a survey devoted to women’s involvement in politics.
Over the recent decade the role of women in politics has increased: today 32% of respondents (37% of women vs 25% of men) say that the number of female politicians should be increased compared to 45% in 1998. The share of those who think that the number of female politicians is sufficient has increased from 27% to 38%. About 10% still think that there should not be any women in politics at all (10% in 1998, 8% in 2017).
Today 51% of Russians (61% of women; 40% of men) support introduction of quotas to ensure women’s representation in state bodies (vs 44% in 2005). The share of those who oppose is 38%.
The belief system in the Russian society is changing; gender is getting less important when it comes to serious questions. Whereas in 2005, when asked who they would choose between male and female candidates in the presidential elections (under otherwise equal conditions) 44% of respondents opted for men and 17% for women, today most of them say “gender does not matter” (54%). However, patriarchal views are strong enough (38% choose men).
Those who support women say that they are good at governing the country, and they are peaceful, practical and sensible. Those who vote for men often say that “it is not a woman thing”, they consider women less strong and more emotional, and their duty is to take care of family.
According to 22% of Russians gender equality declared by the Constitution is violated to varying degrees. Interestingly, the share of women and the share of men who think so are similar (22%); those who report injustice more often are Russians aged 18-24 (30%). Seventy-three percent agree that the rights of men and women are equally respected.
The VCIOM-Sputnik Russian nationwide survey was conducted on September 17-18, 2017. The survey involved 1,200 Russians aged 18 and over, and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 3.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
The 2016 data are based on a telephone survey VCIOM. The survey involved 1,600 Russians aged 18 and over, and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
The 2005-2011 results are based on household surveys.
In your opinion, should the number of female politicians in Russia be bigger or smaller than now, or should women be excluded from politics? (open-ended question, one answers, %) | ||||
| 1998 | 2011 | 2016 | 2017 |
Should be bigger | 45 | 37 | 37 | 32 |
Should be the same as now | 27 | 33 | 38 | 38 |
Should be smaller | 9 | 14 | 11 | 11 |
They should not be involved in politics at all | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 |
Don’t know | 9 | 7 | 6 | 11 |
Do you support the idea to introduce quotas to ensure women’s representation in state bodies? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | |||||
| 2005 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2017 |
Definitely yes | 16 | 16 | 14 | 19 | 14 |
Rather yes | 28 | 28 | 25 | 31 | 37 |
Rather not | 29 | 23 | 27 | 24 | 23 |
Definitely no | 10 | 14 | 10 | 11 | 15 |
Don’t know | 17 | 19 | 24 | 15 | 11 |
If female and male candidates ran for president in the next Russian presidential elections, who would you vote for, under otherwise equal conditions (education, age, professional background)? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | ||||
| 2005 | 2007 | 2011 | 2017 |
I would vote for a male candidate | 44 | 39 | 44 | 38 |
I would vote for a female candidate | 17 | 12 | 18 | 5 |
Gender does not matter to me | 36 | 42 | 34 | 54 |
Don’t know | 3 | 7 | 4 | 3 |
If female and male candidates ran for president in the next Russian presidential elections, who would you vote for, under otherwise equal conditions (education, age, professional background)? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | ||||||||
| Total respondents | Men | Women | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and over |
I would vote for a male candidate | 38 | 39 | 38 | 41 | 30 | 40 | 40 | 41 |
I would vote for a female candidate | 5 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 4 |
Gender does not matter to me | 54 | 53 | 54 | 56 | 63 | 54 | 49 | 49 |
Don’t know | 3 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 |
Why would you oppose a female candidate? (open-ended question, not more than two answers, % of those who would vote for a man) | |
| 2017 |
It is not a woman thing | 16 |
Women are weaker | 12 |
Women should be occupied with family, children | 12 |
They have different mindset | 11 |
Women are more emotional, more subjective | 9 |
I don’t trust women | 8 |
Women are milder | 7 |
Women will not cope | 6 |
Men are always in power | 5 |
At the moment we do not have women capable of governing the country | 5 |
Men are more competent | 3 |
Male solidarity | 1 |
Women can lose their head because of the power | 1 |
Other | 4 |
Don’t know | 12 |
Why would you support a female candidate? (open-ended question, not more than two answers, % of those who would vote for a woman) | |
| 2017 |
For variety; what if women do that better | 24 |
Women are peaceful | 16 |
Women are more practical and sensible | 14 |
Women would pay more attention to domestic policies | 7 |
Women are more sympathetic, attentive | 7 |
Women are smarter | 7 |
Women are more thrifty | 6 |
For solidarity | 5 |
Right of women will be better protected | 4 |
I trust women more | 3 |
Women are more fair | 3 |
Women in power show better performance | 2 |
Women are more experienced, more competent | 2 |
Women are less corrupt | 2 |
Other | 1 |
Don’t know | 10 |
Russian Constitution states that women and men have equal rights. In your opinion, how much does this statement conforms to reality? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | ||||||||
| Total respondents | Men | Women | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and over |
Completely conforms | 33 | 35 | 31 | 29 | 38 | 34 | 32 | 29 |
Likely to conform | 40 | 37 | 42 | 39 | 41 | 43 | 41 | 37 |
Unlikely to conform | 17 | 14 | 20 | 28 | 12 | 11 | 17 | 22 |
Does not conform at all | 5 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
Don’t know | 5 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 8 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!