Good News for Women's History Month: Global Respect for Women Is Rising

New data from Gallup shows something worth celebrating: around the world, more people believe women are being treated with respect and dignity.

In 2025, 72% of adults across 140 countries said women in their country are treated with respect—up nine points from 2022, which was the lowest level in nearly a decade.

That's progress. Real progress.

But here's what the data also shows: men and women see this very differently. In 87 countries, men were significantly more likely than women to say women are treated with respect. In no country were women more likely than men to believe this.

The largest gaps? Portugal, Australia, Greece—and the United States, where 67% of men think women are treated with respect, compared to just 46% of women.

That 21-point gap matters. It means women are experiencing something men aren't seeing—or aren't willing to see.

The research also found that countries where women feel less respected tend to be the same places where women feel less safe walking alone at night. Respect and safety are connected. One doesn't exist without the other.

So yes, the trend is moving in the right direction. Views have improved for both men and women over the past few years. That's real.

But the gaps are still there. And they're wide.

This Women's History Month, let's celebrate the progress. And let's keep pushing for the work that's left.

Because respect isn't just about perception. It's about reality. And women deserve both.