Gender-neutral toilets, parental leave and gender star – a culture war is raging in Switzerland: that of the gender issue. With partially hardened fronts. The debate leaves no one cold. This is shown by the new “Gender Equitable” initiative with a current study on the subject of gender and identity. The Sotomo research institute surveyed 2,700 people in Switzerland – from young to old – on their behalf. Traditional role models are still widespread, especially among men. Compared to women, they are downright conservative. The main points from the study:
For right-wing voters, being a man is crucial
When is a man a man? Herbert Grönemeyer was not only concerned with this question – it divides Swiss men into two political camps. For 62 percent of men who describe themselves as politically right, being a man is a central part of their identity. For two thirds of these, even the central one. Of the left-wing voters, just 12 percent identify strongly with being a man. You also tend to say: I am a feminist. The head of the study and political geographer Michael Hermann explains it this way: “The gender debate is perceived by right-wing voters as an attack on the old order, on their being a man.” That is why, for example, the gender star debate is being conducted more from the right than from the left.
Only a full-time man is a real man
When it comes to their own work, men of all stripes don’t understand fun. Men who work full-time perceive themselves as more masculine than men who work part-time. Women, on the other hand, do not define their womanhood by whether they work full-time or part-time. This has an impact, as another study recently carried out by Sotomo shows: every second university degree goes to a woman, and yet they work less and less from the age of 30 onwards. And even if the children are out of the woods, they don’t increase their workload. This doesn’t seem to bother many men: only around half as many men as women find a new distribution of roles good at home. This attitude could have consequences for politics, for parents or papermaking. Study director Hermann says: “Laws probably do little to change the division of tasks as long as there is not a change in the mind first.”
Men especially find female women sexy
When it comes to sex appeal, men are pretty old-fashioned. Heterosexuals like stereotypical women who are pretty and look feminine. Only a third of straight men find women attractive who also have masculine sides – outwardly or in terms of character. Appearances are also important when it comes to sexiness for homosexual men. It is completely different with straight women: Appearance is not very important. Almost two thirds of them also think it’s great when a man also has feminine sides. 77 percent of women appreciate it when men can show tears. Unsurprisingly: only half of the men think that is positive.
The results confirm what research has shown time and again for decades – despite emancipation! For men, appearance is decisive when choosing a partner, for women the financial security provided by the partner.
“#Gender-fair” initiative
The “#sex gender equality” initiative was recently launched. It sees itself as a debate room – online as a website and in real life with events. The driving force behind this is the Zurich patroness Monique Bär, who comes from the Bär banking family. The vision of Bär and her team: Bring people together, enable consensus. The project is broadly based, from Pro Juventute to the Swiss Commercial Association. And is scientifically supported. The current study is the start; the survey is to be repeated every year. «#Gender-fair» aims to make social changes visible over time. This year’s survey was carried out in October 2021 among 2,690 Swiss nationals in the three major language regions of Switzerland.
The “#sex gender equality” initiative was recently launched. It sees itself as a debate room – online as a website and in real life with events. The driving force behind this is the Zurich patroness Monique Bär, who comes from the Bär banking family. The vision of Bär and her team: Bring people together, enable consensus. The project is broadly based, from Pro Juventute to the Swiss Commercial Association. And is scientifically supported. The current study is the start; the survey is to be repeated every year. «#Gender-fair» aims to make social changes visible over time. This year’s survey was carried out in October 2021 among 2,690 Swiss nationals in the three major language regions of Switzerland.
Traditional role models: Younger women are more open
Masculinity is a big issue, especially for boys. For a third of them, it is even very important for their self-image. This attitude is also reflected in the way young men think about genders. For 35 percent of 18 to 25 year olds there is only man and woman and nothing in between. In the case of 26 to 35-year-old men, the figure is as high as 39 percent. Young women, on the other hand, are more relaxed: only 8 percent of 26 to 35 year olds believe that there are only men and women.
Michael Hermann says: “The attitude of the young men is a backlash.” The classic role models are falling apart. What makes a man a man is unclear. But it is precisely this question that preoccupies adolescents. “Some are insecure and try to prove themselves with an emphasis on masculinity.” The result: the youth riots in spring. The increasing attacks on homosexuals and trans people. Or, as the study also shows: one fifth of non-heteros feel disadvantaged because of their sexual orientation.
But: The purely masculine spelling is becoming less popular
The dispute over this is greater than its actual use in everyday life: Only 7 percent use the gender star, gender gap or colon when designating occupations. But even the opposite, the generic masculine – the purely masculine spelling that includes women – is no longer suitable for a majority, according to Hermann. Only 27 percent – mostly men! – use it. The largest group, however, more than a third, uses double entries such as readers.