A study supported by UNDP, UNFPA, and Sweden uncovers mixed perspectives on the roles of women and men in family and society

TBILISI. 20 March 2025 – A new study, Men, Women, and Gender Relations in Georgia: Public Perceptions and Attitudes, revealed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), with support from Sweden, highlights a complex gender equality landscape. The findings show a decline in awareness of gender equality principles between 2013 and 2019, underscoring shifting public attitudes and generational divides. Compared to earlier surveys, both women and men now show greater ambivalence towards gender equality, although younger generations are more likely to challenge ‘traditional’ gender roles in domestic and public life.

While 57.5 percent of the population think that a woman's primary responsibility is to care for the family, a significant 62 percent of citizens acknowledge the benefits of greater women’s participation in politics and decision-making.

“We have been studying gender perceptions in Georgia since 2013, through three rounds of this research. This provides a twelve-year perspective to assess social dynamics in key areas of gender equality and women’s rights. Even though our research captures uncertainty about gender roles, one finding stands out through all three surveys: almost half of the respondents believe that real equality between men and women has yet to be achieved, while more than 60 percent believe that Georgia would benefit from greater involvement of women in politics. Even in this complex landscape, Georgians see a future of their country that includes advancing equality, participation, and social inclusion,” said Douglas Webb, UNDP Resident Representative in Georgia.

Mariam Bandzeladze, UNFPA Georgia Head of Office, highlighted key research findings, stating that “the study examines gender perceptions at multiple levels — societal, communal, relational, and individual — providing a nuanced understanding of evolving trends. One particularly striking finding is the shift in attitudes towards women’s roles in the family. In 2024, 57.5 percent of respondents agreed that a woman’s primary duty is to care for the family, up from 48 percent in 2019. Additionally, the belief that the final say in family matters should rest with men has increased by seven percentage points. These trends indicate a growing resistance to the evolving understanding of women's roles in society. However, despite this pushback, there is still significant progress in how younger generations perceive and acknowledge women's contributions and equality in various aspects of life.”

Elisabet Brandberg, Head of the Development Cooperation Section and Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Sweden in Georgia, stressed that equal rights and opportunities are the foundation of a thriving society.

“Our research comes at an important time when we celebrate progress towards achieving meaningful gender equality while acknowledging challenges and charting ways forward. The recognition of persistent barriers to women’s economic and political participation is crucial, as is ensuring their full and active role in shaping the country’s future,” she said.

Key research highlights include

Domestic Roles

The study confirms that household chores in Georgia remain largely divided by gender. Women continue to shoulder the primary responsibility for tasks like childcare, cooking, and cleaning. Six out of ten women report that childcare is primarily their duty, a view shared by half of male respondents. However, around 40 percent of both women and men say that childcare responsibilities are equally shared between partners.

Despite these divisions, 77 percent of women and 85 percent of men express satisfaction with how household duties are distributed, a slight increase since 2019 when 73 percent of women and 78 percent of men shared this view.

Additionally, 47 percent of women and 69 percent of men believe that men should have ultimate decision-making authority in the household and that a wife should not challenge this role. This marks a significant shift in women’s attitudes, rising from 34 percent in 2019. Meanwhile, men’s views have remained largely unchanged, with 68 percent expressing the same belief in 2019.

Inheritance Rights

Compared to 2019, more women and fewer men support equal inheritance rights. Notably, approval for women and men having an equal right to inherit the family home has decreased among male respondents, from 60.6 percent in 2019 to 51.5 percent in 2024.

Business & Leadership

While half of the population believes that women and men can be equally successful business leaders, a significant gender gap remains, with 20 percent more women than men supporting this view. Women’s confidence in their leadership abilities has grown, with 62 percent now affirming that women can successfully manage businesses, up from 56 percent in 2019. In contrast, men’s confidence in female leadership has declined, dropping from 54 percent in 2019 to 44 percent in 2024. Moreover, a growing number of men now believe that men are inherently better ‘suited’ for business leadership.

Despite these perceptions, 60 percent of women and 50 percent of men agree that men and women face equal career advancement challenges—while still maintaining that women’s responsibilities should prioritise traditional domestic roles, even when employed.

Political Participation

The 2024 study reveals a growing shift in attitudes toward women in political leadership, with increasing support for electoral gender quotas. This trend is particularly noticeable among men, whose support has risen from 44.4 percent in 2019 to 54.1 percent in 2024—an increase of nearly 10 percentage points.

Sixty-two percent of respondents—71.6 percent of women and 51.8 percent of men—believe that greater female participation in politics would benefit the country. While women’s views have remained unchanged since 2019, men’s support has risen by nearly seven percentage points. In 2013, only 50 percent of respondents—56 percent of women and 43 percent of men—held this belief, highlighting a gradual shift in public attitudes over the past decade.

Generational Divide

Attitudes towards gender roles vary across generations. Among young adults (18-29), only 28.6% of women and 49% of men agree that a woman's primary duty is to care for her family rather than pursue professional development. This belief is more prevalent in the 30-54 age group, rising to 47.7% among women and 65.2% among men. The highest levels of agreement are found among those aged 55 and older, with 67.2% of women and 76.7% of men supporting this view.

Background Information:

The study ‘Men, Women, and Gender Relations in Georgia: Public Perceptions and Attitudes’ was commissioned by UNDP and UNFPA, with support from Sweden. Conducted by the Institute of Social Studies and Analysis, this research follows the International Men and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES) model offering a comprehensive framework for analysing men’s and women’s attitudes and behaviours on a wide range of gender equality issues. The study surveyed 2,408 respondents and held focus group discussions across five regions of Georgia. Its full study report is available on the UNDP and UNFPA websites.

UN Joint Programme for Gender Equality:

The study is part of the UN Joint Programme for Gender Equality, a collaborative initiative between the United Nations and Sweden, to advance gender equality in Georgia. Implemented by the three UN agencies – UNDP, UNFPA, and UN Women, the programme drives progress in key areas such as women’s political and economic empowerment, sexual and reproductive rights, and eliminating violence against women and girls. Launched in 2022, the third phase of this extensive programme will run until 2026, supported by a US$7.3 million contribution from Sweden.