Indians demonstrate some of the most progressive attitudes toward gender equality globally, with 78% of citizens personally believing in its importance, according to a new Ipsos survey released ahead of International Women’s Day 2025.
The 30-country study found that Indian men and women are closely aligned in their support for gender equality, with 77% of men and 80% of women endorsing its importance. This stands in contrast to countries like South Korea and the Netherlands, where only 52% and 54% of respondents respectively supported the concept.
The research also revealed balanced perspectives on domestic responsibilities, with 48% of Indians viewing housekeeping and cooking as shared responsibilities rather than gender-specific tasks. Only 28% attributed these responsibilities solely to women, while 18% associated them with men.
“According to the World Economic Forum, at the current rate of progress, it would take until 2158, roughly five generations from now, to reach full gender parity,” said Amit Adarkar, CEO of Ipsos India. “What is heartening to see is that both men and women in India are aligned in their views on equal treatment and opportunity for women.”
The survey, conducted between December 2024 and January 2025, highlighted that 69% of Indians believe women holding positions with responsibilities in business and government represents a major step in accelerating gender equality. However, an equal number feel that India has already done significant work in providing women with equal rights.
Paradoxically, the research also found that 66% of Indians perceive increased stress on men to support gender equality, with 64% believing that efforts to promote gender parity sometimes result in discrimination against men.
The survey revealed a notable contradiction in attitudes: while supporting gender equality broadly, 60% of Indians still view men who stay at home to care for children as “less of a man” — an increase from 39% who held this view in 2019.
On specific responsibilities, Indians demonstrated progressive views by attributing various tasks to both genders: 53% believe unpaid family care applies to both genders, 48% say both genders face gender-based violence, and 52% think both genders have similar access to healthcare.
The Ipsos survey included approximately 2,200 respondents from India, with about 1,800 interviewed face-to-face and 400 online. It is part of a broader study interviewing 24,269 people across 30 countries for International Women’s Day, which is observed annually on March 8.
This research comes as global discussions around gender equality continue to evolve, with the United Nations and other international organizations emphasizing the need for accelerated action to address systemic barriers to women’s equality. The theme for International Women’s Day 2025, “#AccelerateAction,” calls for increased momentum in addressing these challenges.
India’s position as having some of the most progressive views on gender equality presents an interesting contrast to often-reported gender disparities in economic participation, educational attainment, and political representation within the country.
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