35% of Women Feel Held Back in Life, 50% of Gen Z Agree

• 35% of women believe they are held back in life because of their gender, new research suggests
• Among Gen Z women, the figure is 50%, which is the highest across all the age groups
• Results from a survey of 2,000 women indicate the challenges faced by women at the personal and professional level

Based on new research, one out of three women, or 35 percent, feels that they have been held back in life because of their gender. The research also found that 50 percent of Gen Z women feel this way, more so than any other age group.

The survey, comprising 2,000 women, has found that women face hurdles in both personal and professional spheres.

Most women feel that their thoughts are more likely to be dismissed (45 percent), or that things are not "safe" for them to do (36 percent). In addition, 35 percent feel that they are not taken as seriously as men, 35 percent are being underpaid in comparison to their male counterparts, and 32 percent feel that they are underestimated by their peers.

Many Gen Z women feel that they have faced hurdles such as fewer responses to their job applications in comparison to men or that their health concerns are not being addressed as quickly as they should.

For millennial women, 24 percent feel that they are held back by being expected to become parents, while 22 percent feel that they are being held back by being expected to be stay-at-home parents.

Nevertheless, there is hope that things may change. The survey, carried out by Talker Research during Women’s History Month, indicated that the current generations are more confident that the gaps between men and women will close during their lifetime.

Almost 60 percent of Gen Z women were confident that the gaps in compensation, health care, and leadership would close before they reach the latter stages of their careers.

Although the current generations are confident that the gaps between men and women will close, the survey also collected advice from women for the next generation of women.

The women advised the next generation of women to stand up for themselves, believe in their instincts, and not compare themselves with others, to be their own role models.