MEASURING PERCEPTIONS OF EQUALITY FOR WOMEN AND MEN IN LEADERSHIP
The Reykjavík Index for Leadership 2020 finds enduring prejudice against women as Covid-19 exacerbates inequalities. The Index measures how people feel about women in power. It measures the perceived legitimacy of male and female leadership in politics and across twenty professions, as well as how men and women differ in their views, and the extent to which men and women are viewed equally in terms of suitability of individuals for positions of power.
The annual Reykjavík Index for Leadership research, now in its third year, finds that as the world grapples with the devastating impacts of COVID-19, society has not become more progressive in how it views men’s and women’s roles. This is despite widespread global movements calling for greater equality between men and women.
Despite the pandemic, the 2020 research was carried out in G7 countries as well as India, Kenya and Nigeria. Among the findings:
- The UK and Canada have the most progressive views in the G7, with scores of 81
- Germany replaces Italy in last place, despite its female leader Angela Merkel garnering widespread support for the way in which she has dealt with the COVID-19 crisis
- Young men are demonstrating significantly less progressive views compared to all other groups
- British women are the most confident in their suitability to lead, while French, German and American women have become less so since 2019
- Media and entertainment (81), natural science (81), economics and political science (81), and banking and finance (80) are the sectors with the highest average G7 Index scores.
Click here to download the 2020-2021 Reykjavík Index for Leadership report.