A new survey finds that 35% of American women believe their gender has held them back in life. Among Gen Z women, that number rises to 50%, the highest of any generation.
Despite reporting the most barriers, Gen Z women are also the most optimistic about the future. Nearly three in five believe that gaps in pay, healthcare, and leadership representation between men and women will close during their lifetimes.
The most frequently reported challenges include:
45% say their ideas are dismissed more often than men’s
36% say some activities or opportunities are labeled “unsafe” for them
35% feel they are not taken as seriously as men
35% report earning less than their male colleagues doing similar work
Millennial women reported another common pressure: expectations around parenthood. 24% said they felt limited by pressure to become parents, while 22% said assumptions that they would leave work to stay home with children affected their careers.
How Women Say Gender Affects Their Lives
The survey was conducted online by Talker Research between February 26 and March 2, 2026, gathering responses from 2,000 American women. Participants were asked about ways their gender influenced their opportunities in both professional and personal settings.
Many respondents described everyday experiences where gender appeared to influence how they were treated. Nearly half said their ideas were more likely to be dismissed than those of male colleagues. Others reported being discouraged from certain opportunities because they were considered unsafe for women.
Additional findings include:
35% said they were not taken as seriously as men in professional environments
35% reported earning less than their male peers performing comparable work
32% said they are frequently underestimated
For Gen Z women, the challenges also extended to job searches and healthcare. Some reported receiving fewer responses to job applications compared to men and having difficulty getting their health concerns addressed quickly or accurately.
Millennial women, meanwhile, more frequently described career limitations tied to social expectations about family roles. Many said they experienced pressure to become parents or assumptions that they would eventually leave the workforce to focus on raising children.
Gen Z Women Remain Optimistic
Although Gen Z women reported the highest levels of perceived gender-based barriers, they also expressed the most optimism about change.
Nearly 60% believe major gender gaps will close during their lifetime:
58% believe equal pay will be achieved
58% believe healthcare equity will improve
57% believe women will reach leadership parity with men
This combination of recognizing current challenges while expecting future progress reflects how younger women view gender equality today: aware of persistent issues but unwilling to accept them as permanent.
Advice From Women to the Next Generation
When asked what advice they would give to younger women, respondents emphasized confidence and self-advocacy. Many encouraged standing up for oneself, trusting personal instincts, and refusing to be silenced or minimized.
Common themes included:
Standing firm when confronted with unfair treatment
Trusting personal judgment and feelings
Avoiding comparisons with others
Building confidence and independence
A System Still Catching Up
Overall, the survey suggests many women still experience being overlooked, underestimated, or underpaid in everyday life. While progress has been made over the years, the results indicate that gender-related challenges remain a present reality for a significant portion of women in the United States.
At the same time, younger generations — particularly Gen Z — appear determined to continue pushing for change and believe that meaningful progress is possible.
Survey Notes
Limitations
The survey is based on self-reported responses from women who had internet access and chose to participate online. This means the sample may not fully represent women without internet access, those living in rural areas, or individuals with limited digital literacy.
Because the survey measures perceptions rather than independently verified outcomes, reported experiences such as pay gaps or being dismissed reflect personal assessments rather than documented records. Generational comparisons should also be interpreted cautiously, as the survey did not specify sample sizes for each age group, and older participants may be underrepresented in online panels.
Funding and Disclosure
The survey was conducted and commissioned by Talker Research, a market research firm affiliated with Talker News, which published the findings. No independent third-party review or peer-review process was reported. The survey was also released during Women’s History Month, which may have influenced the timing and framing of the results.