Gender Stereotypes
Stereotypes operate quietly. They appear in textbooks, career advice, family expectations and media portrayals, and they influence decisions long before anyone names them. They are also measurable: large cross-country surveys track them directly.
Educational information only. Linha de Fala does not provide legal, medical, psychological or other professional advice, and is not an emergency or reporting service.
In short
What is it?
The expectations societies place on girls and boys about what they should be, study and do.
What do the numbers show?
Around 9 in 10 people worldwide hold at least one clear bias against women.
Where is it happening?
Measured in 80+ countries covering most of the world's population, with little change over a decade.
Who is affected?
Everyone. Stereotypes are learned early, at home, at school and online.
Why does it matter?
Norms decide who applies, who is hired, who is believed — long before any law is involved.
What is it?
Stereotypes are generalised beliefs about what people of a given gender are like or should do.
The UNDP Gender Social Norms Index measures bias across political, educational, economic and physical-integrity dimensions in countries covering around 85% of the world's population.
Stereotypes also constrain boys and men, particularly around care work, health-seeking and emotional expression.
Why does it matter?
- Choices that look individual are often shaped by expectations set years earlier — subject choice at 16 is the clearest example.
- Bias measured in attitudes tracks closely with measured outcomes in political and economic participation.
- Naming a pattern makes it possible to discuss, measure and change it.
The Numbers
≈9 in 10
People who hold at least one clear bias against women
≈50%
People who believe men make better political leaders than women
≈40%
People who believe men make better business executives than women
Figures on this page are reproduced from the publications listed under Sources. Linha de Fala summarises and explains them; it does not recalculate or estimate them.
Around the World
- Argentina
- Comprehensive sexuality and gender education is part of the national curriculum framework, and remains politically contested.Source: Ministry of Education, Argentina
- Mexico
- Review of school textbooks has been used as a policy instrument to address stereotyped portrayals.Source: UNESCO
- OECD countries
- Attitudes have shifted fastest on education and slowest on political leadership, according to repeated survey waves.Source: UNDP GSNI, 2023
Young Voices
The Global Youth Contributors Program is one international program. There are no country-specific teams or applications — everyone joins the same program by sending a DM on Instagram.
Are you writing about this issue where you live? Join the Global Youth Contributors Program.
What Governments Are Doing
- Curriculum and textbook reviewAuditing teaching materials for stereotyped content, a standing UNESCO recommendation.Source: UNESCO
- Advertising standardsCodes prohibiting harmful gender stereotypes in advertising, in force in the United Kingdom since 2019.Source: UK Advertising Standards Authority
- Public campaignsState-funded campaigns addressing the distribution of care work within households.Source: OECD
Data & Sources
Statistics on this page come from reliable international organisations and official datasets. Each statistic includes its original year and source so readers can verify the information themselves.
- Source
- UNDP
- Year
- 2023
- Indicator
- 2023 Gender Social Norms Index
- Source
- World Economic Forum
- Year
- 2024
- Indicator
- Global Gender Gap Report 2024
- Source
- UK Advertising Standards Authority
- Year
- 2019
- Indicator
- Depicting harm: advertising guidance on gender stereotypes