The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), with the support of Sweden, have published a new study, IMAGES 2024: Men, Women, and Gender Relations in Georgia – Public Perceptions and Attitudes.

According to UNFPA, the study reveals that, compared to 2013 and 2019, perceptions and attitudes toward gender equality in Georgia have become more complex and ambivalent. Awareness of gender equality principles has declined, while generational differences have widened.

"57.5% of the population believes that a woman's primary duty is to take care of the family, yet an even greater number—62%—think that women's active involvement in politics would benefit the country. At the same time, younger generations are more supportive of gender equality both in the family and in public life," the report states.

A 12-Year Perspective on Gender Attitudes.

"Since 2013, this is the third time we are conducting this study, allowing us to assess attitudes toward key gender equality issues over a twelve-year period. Despite ongoing discussions about gender roles, one clear trend emerges from all three studies: nearly half of respondents believe that gender equality has not yet been achieved in Georgia, while over 60% support greater political participation for women. This indicates that Georgians see their country’s future in terms of strengthening equality, inclusion, and social cohesion," said Douglas Webb, UNDP Resident Representative in Georgia.

Marika Bandzeladze, Head of UNFPA Georgia, highlighted key findings from the study, which analyzed attitudes toward gender equality at societal, community, and individual levels.

"The three rounds of research allow us to identify important trends, particularly regarding perceptions of women’s roles in the family. According to the 2024 data, a significant portion of respondents (57.5%) agree that a woman’s main responsibility is caring for the family—up from 48% in 2019. The number of people who believe that the final decision in a household should be made by men has also increased. However, it is noteworthy that younger generations view women’s roles differently and are more supportive of gender equality both in the family and in public life," said Bandzeladze.

Swedish Embassy’s Perspective Elizabeth Brandberg, Head of Development Cooperation at the Swedish Embassy in Georgia, and the Deputy Ambassador emphasized that gender equality is the foundation of a successful society.

"This year’s study comes at a crucial time when progress and challenges in gender equality are at the center of discussion. It is essential to recognize and address the barriers to women’s economic and political participation so that they can play an active role in shaping their country’s future," said Brandberg.

According to UNFPA, the study covers several key areas, including caregiving and domestic labor.

Household Responsibilities: The study shows that caregiving and household tasks in Georgia remain gendered. Childcare, cooking, and house cleaning are still primarily seen as women's responsibilities.

6 out of 10 women say childcare is mostly their duty, a view confirmed by half of the men surveyed.

About 40% of both men and women state that childcare responsibilities are shared equally between partners.

A majority of respondents—77% of women and 85% of men—are satisfied with the current division of household responsibilities. Compared to 2019, this represents a slight increase, when 73% of women and 78% of men expressed the same view.

Decision-Making in the Family:

69% of men and 47% of women believe that the final say in household decisions should belong to the man and that women should not challenge these decisions.

In 2019, fewer people agreed with this idea—68% of men and 34% of women.

Inheritance and Business Leadership:

Compared to 2019, fewer men and more women now believe that family inheritance should be shared equally between sons and daughters.

In 2019, 60.6% of men supported equal inheritance, but by 2024, this figure had dropped to 51.5%.

Half of Georgia’s population believes that men and women are equally capable of running a business, although gender differences remain:

Women are 20% more likely than men to support this view.

Women’s confidence in business leadership has grown: in 2019, 56% of women believed they could succeed in business like men, while in 2024, this figure rose to 62%.

Conversely, fewer men now believe in equal business leadership, with their support dropping from 54% in 2019 to 44% in 2024.

Changing Attitudes Towards Women in Politics Support for gender quotas in elections has grown, particularly among men.

In 2019, 44.4% of men supported gender quotas in elections, while in 2024, this increased by nearly 10 points to 54.1%.

Overall, 62% of respondents—71.6% of women and 51.8% of men—support greater female participation in politics, considering it beneficial for the country.

While women’s attitudes on this issue remained stable between 2019 and 2024, men’s support increased by nearly 7 points.

Compared to 2013, the trend is even more evident. Twelve years ago, 50% of respondents supported women’s political participation (56% of women and 43% of men).

Generational Differences:

Young people are significantly more supportive of gender equality in both family and public life.

Among those aged 18-29, only 28.6% of women and 49% of men agree that a woman’s primary role is family care rather than professional development.

In the 30-54 age group, this belief is more prevalent: 47.7% of women and 65.2% of men agree.

Among those aged 55 and older, these numbers rise further: 67.2% of women and 76.7% of men believe a woman’s main duty is family care.

The study highlights evolving attitudes toward gender roles in Georgia, showing both progress and persistent challenges in achieving gender equality.