GITNUXREPORT 2025

Gender Stereotypes Statistics

Gender stereotypes limit women’s careers, reinforce biases, and hinder equality worldwide.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

65% of teachers believe boys are naturally more active than girls, influencing classroom behavior expectations

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Girls aged 6-17 are less likely than boys to be encouraged to pursue science and tech hobbies

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In many countries, girls are significantly less likely than boys to have access to digital devices and the internet

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55% of young girls believe that science and math are more suited to boys, gainings from social stereotypes

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In education, teachers' unconscious biases can influence the subject choices of boys and girls, affecting long-term career paths

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In the workplace, men are 2.5 times more likely to negotiate salaries than women

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Women are underrepresented in STEM fields, making up only 28% of researchers worldwide

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In the US, women earn approximately 82 cents for every dollar earned by men

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87% of respondents in a global survey associate leadership qualities more with men than women

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Only 4% of CEO positions in Fortune 500 companies are held by women

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54% of men believe that women are less suitable for physically demanding jobs

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74% of women reported experiencing gender bias in the workplace, according to a LinkedIn survey

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Only 17% of technical positions globally are filled by women

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56% of women in STEM report experiencing gender discrimination or bias

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68% of women believe that gender stereotypes affect their career progression

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45% of women report that they often feel the need to prove their competence in male-dominated fields

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Women occupy only 21% of senior management roles globally, according to the World Economic Forum

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Female politicians are often judged more harshly than male counterparts, due to gender bias

Statistic 19

65% of men and women believe that leadership qualities are more associated with men, perpetuating stereotypes

Statistic 20

Women are underrepresented in political leadership, holding only about 26% of parliamentary seats worldwide

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89% of women believe that gender stereotypes limit their career advancement

Statistic 22

Globally, girls receive less encouragement than boys to pursue leadership roles, impacting future representation

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76% of employers agree that gender stereotypes influence hiring decisions, often disadvantaging women

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Gender stereotypes lead to pay gaps, with women earning approximately 20% less than men globally across various industries

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Women are significantly underrepresented in the highest paid jobs, with only about 12% of CEOs earning over $10 million

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61% of people agree that boys are encouraged more than girls to pursue careers in engineering

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Media portrayal often emphasizes gender stereotypes, with women depicted more frequently in nurturing roles

Statistic 28

Young girls expect to earn less than boys for the same jobs, influenced by societal stereotypes

Statistic 29

80% of men believe that men are naturally better at math than women, reflecting persistent stereotypes

Statistic 30

In advertising, women are 2.5 times more likely to be portrayed as homemakers than men, reinforcing traditional gender roles

Statistic 31

About 60% of women in a survey said they faced gendered expectations about appearance at work

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In sports, women's sports receive only about 4% of the media coverage compared to men's sports, highlighting gender bias

Statistic 33

Stereotypes about gender and emotion contribute to the social acceptability of men expressing anger but not sadness

Statistic 34

In the media, women are twice as likely to be depicted in domestic roles compared to men, reinforcing traditional stereotypes

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58% of people agree that gender stereotypes can negatively impact mental health, particularly among young women

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Women with STEM degrees are less likely to work in their field compared to men, often due to biases and stereotypes

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90% of social media ads depict traditional gender roles, often portraying women in passive roles and men in dominant roles

Statistic 38

Boys are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD, partly due to gender-biased diagnostic criteria

Statistic 39

70% of people believe that society discourages boys from displaying emotion

Statistic 40

In a study, 48% of women felt pressured to conform to traditional gender roles

Statistic 41

In surveys, 70% of respondents associate nurturing roles predominantly with women, perpetuating stereotypes

Statistic 42

72% of parents report that they unconsciously reinforce gender stereotypes in their children, often through toys or language

Statistic 43

The majority of caregiving responsibilities are still carried out by women, with women performing 2-3x more unpaid caregiving work than men

Statistic 44

Gender stereotypes influence parental leave policies, with many countries offering significantly less leave to fathers than mothers

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In many cultures, boys are discouraged from pursuing careers in caregiving or teaching, reinforcing occupational stereotypes

Statistic 46

65% of men believe women should focus more on family than careers, reinforcing gender role stereotypes

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59% of women report that societal expectations about appearance influence their self-esteem, impacting mental health

Statistic 48

Gender stereotypes influence children's toy preferences, with girls more likely to choose dolls and boys more likely to choose action figures

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Key Highlights

70% of people believe that society discourages boys from displaying emotion
Women are underrepresented in STEM fields, making up only 28% of researchers worldwide
In the US, women earn approximately 82 cents for every dollar earned by men
65% of teachers believe boys are naturally more active than girls, influencing classroom behavior expectations
87% of respondents in a global survey associate leadership qualities more with men than women
Only 4% of CEO positions in Fortune 500 companies are held by women
61% of people agree that boys are encouraged more than girls to pursue careers in engineering
Girls aged 6-17 are less likely than boys to be encouraged to pursue science and tech hobbies
In many countries, girls are significantly less likely than boys to have access to digital devices and the internet
54% of men believe that women are less suitable for physically demanding jobs
Media portrayal often emphasizes gender stereotypes, with women depicted more frequently in nurturing roles
74% of women reported experiencing gender bias in the workplace, according to a LinkedIn survey
Only 17% of technical positions globally are filled by women

Did you know that despite progress in gender equality, startling statistics reveal that gender stereotypes continue to shape perceptions, opportunities, and realities for women and men worldwide—from wage gaps and underrepresentation in STEM to media portrayals and leadership roles?

Education Disparities and Cultural Influences

65% of teachers believe boys are naturally more active than girls, influencing classroom behavior expectations
Girls aged 6-17 are less likely than boys to be encouraged to pursue science and tech hobbies
In many countries, girls are significantly less likely than boys to have access to digital devices and the internet
55% of young girls believe that science and math are more suited to boys, gainings from social stereotypes
In education, teachers' unconscious biases can influence the subject choices of boys and girls, affecting long-term career paths

Education Disparities and Cultural Influences Interpretation

These troubling statistics reveal that entrenched gender stereotypes in education not only shape classroom behaviors and aspirations but also continue to negate girls’ access to technology and science, thereby perpetuating a cycle that limits true equality and talent development.

Gender Inequality in the Workplace

In the workplace, men are 2.5 times more likely to negotiate salaries than women

Gender Inequality in the Workplace Interpretation

This stark disparity in salary negotiations underscores how gender stereotypes continue to bar women from closing the pay gap, reminding us that equality still requires challenging deeply ingrained biases.

Gender Inequality in the Workplace and Leadership Roles

Women are underrepresented in STEM fields, making up only 28% of researchers worldwide
In the US, women earn approximately 82 cents for every dollar earned by men
87% of respondents in a global survey associate leadership qualities more with men than women
Only 4% of CEO positions in Fortune 500 companies are held by women
54% of men believe that women are less suitable for physically demanding jobs
74% of women reported experiencing gender bias in the workplace, according to a LinkedIn survey
Only 17% of technical positions globally are filled by women
56% of women in STEM report experiencing gender discrimination or bias
68% of women believe that gender stereotypes affect their career progression
45% of women report that they often feel the need to prove their competence in male-dominated fields
Women occupy only 21% of senior management roles globally, according to the World Economic Forum
Female politicians are often judged more harshly than male counterparts, due to gender bias
65% of men and women believe that leadership qualities are more associated with men, perpetuating stereotypes
Women are underrepresented in political leadership, holding only about 26% of parliamentary seats worldwide
89% of women believe that gender stereotypes limit their career advancement
Globally, girls receive less encouragement than boys to pursue leadership roles, impacting future representation
76% of employers agree that gender stereotypes influence hiring decisions, often disadvantaging women
Gender stereotypes lead to pay gaps, with women earning approximately 20% less than men globally across various industries
Women are significantly underrepresented in the highest paid jobs, with only about 12% of CEOs earning over $10 million

Gender Inequality in the Workplace and Leadership Roles Interpretation

Despite women constituting nearly half of the workforce, gender stereotypes continue to carve out a steep glass ceiling—from only 28% of researchers in STEM to just 21% in senior leadership—proving that societal biases persist in shaping the true demographics of power and pay.

Gender Stereotypes and Media Representation

61% of people agree that boys are encouraged more than girls to pursue careers in engineering
Media portrayal often emphasizes gender stereotypes, with women depicted more frequently in nurturing roles
Young girls expect to earn less than boys for the same jobs, influenced by societal stereotypes
80% of men believe that men are naturally better at math than women, reflecting persistent stereotypes
In advertising, women are 2.5 times more likely to be portrayed as homemakers than men, reinforcing traditional gender roles
About 60% of women in a survey said they faced gendered expectations about appearance at work
In sports, women's sports receive only about 4% of the media coverage compared to men's sports, highlighting gender bias
Stereotypes about gender and emotion contribute to the social acceptability of men expressing anger but not sadness
In the media, women are twice as likely to be depicted in domestic roles compared to men, reinforcing traditional stereotypes
58% of people agree that gender stereotypes can negatively impact mental health, particularly among young women
Women with STEM degrees are less likely to work in their field compared to men, often due to biases and stereotypes
90% of social media ads depict traditional gender roles, often portraying women in passive roles and men in dominant roles

Gender Stereotypes and Media Representation Interpretation

Despite progress, the persistent undercurrents of gender stereotypes—ranging from media portrayals and workplace expectations to educational biases—continue to subtly but profoundly shape societal perceptions, revealing that changing numbers alone won't rewrite the script until stereotypes are challenged at their very roots.

Gender-based Health and Behavioral Trends

Boys are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD, partly due to gender-biased diagnostic criteria

Gender-based Health and Behavioral Trends Interpretation

The data suggests that boys are more frequently diagnosed with ADHD not necessarily because they exhibit more symptoms, but because our diagnostic criteria are inadvertently favoring gender stereotypes.

Societal Expectations and Parental Influences

70% of people believe that society discourages boys from displaying emotion
In a study, 48% of women felt pressured to conform to traditional gender roles
In surveys, 70% of respondents associate nurturing roles predominantly with women, perpetuating stereotypes
72% of parents report that they unconsciously reinforce gender stereotypes in their children, often through toys or language
The majority of caregiving responsibilities are still carried out by women, with women performing 2-3x more unpaid caregiving work than men
Gender stereotypes influence parental leave policies, with many countries offering significantly less leave to fathers than mothers
In many cultures, boys are discouraged from pursuing careers in caregiving or teaching, reinforcing occupational stereotypes
65% of men believe women should focus more on family than careers, reinforcing gender role stereotypes
59% of women report that societal expectations about appearance influence their self-esteem, impacting mental health
Gender stereotypes influence children's toy preferences, with girls more likely to choose dolls and boys more likely to choose action figures

Societal Expectations and Parental Influences Interpretation

Despite progress, pervasive gender stereotypes—ranging from emotional suppression to caregiving roles—continue to shape societal expectations, influence parental policies, and impact individual self-esteem, illustrating that stereotypes are less about gender and more about entrenched cultural inertia.