The continual gender revolution in Australia

This study examines shifts in Australian attitudes towards gender roles in work, family life and politics from 2000 to 2020. Using data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey, this chapter analyzes attitudes across four key areas: female political leadership, the division of domestic labor, the right to employment for mothers and the perceived impact of maternal employment on children. Findings reveal a broad trend towards egalitarianism, with notable increases in support for gender equality across all domains. Women consistently demonstrate more egalitarian attitudes than men, though the gender gap has narrowed, especially regarding views on political leadership. Younger cohorts, higher-income individuals and those with tertiary education exhibit stronger egalitarian tendencies, while traditional views are more common among older cohorts, couples with dependents, and those with lower educational attainment. These results underscore significant progress in gender equality in Australia, yet as Chapter Eight has found, persistent disparities indicate the ongoing need for policy interventions to further promote gender equity across societal sectors.