1November 2019 | World QuestionsWhat helps or hinders womens equality?What helps or hinders womens equality?November 2019 | World Questions 2About this studyThis research was produced to support the launch of Kings College Londons World Questions event series, which begins with Hillary Rodham Clinton and Julia Gillard on 13 November 2019. The World Questions event series aims to shine a light on challenges which impact us all, promoting new perspectives, insights and solutions from global leaders with first-hand experience of making change.Secretary Clinton and Ms Gillard will discuss womens leadership and gender equality at the inaugural event, which will also help mark the publication of The Book of Gutsy Women, by Secretary Clinton and her daughter, Chelsea. The book tells the stories of inspirational women who have challenged the status quo.This study reveals public perceptions of what helps or hinders womens equality around the world, with a focus on Britain, the US and Australia as the countries represented by the first World Questions event.Around 20,000 people across 28 countries were surveyed by the Global Institute for Womens Leadership,Policy Institute and Ipsos MORI for the study.3November 2019 | World QuestionsWhat helps women get ahead in life?4November 2019 | World QuestionsIn Britain, the US and Australia, the public think men are less likely than women to need intelligence and hard work to get ahead.November 2019 | World Questions 526%17%Base: 19,443 online adults aged 16-74 across 27 countries, 20 September to 4 October 2019When presented with 14 possible choices for the top two or three most important things that help women get ahead, people in Britain, the US and Australia are all more likely to say that intelligence is key for women to be successful than they are to say the same for men.Q: Which two or three of the following, if any, do you think have been the most important factors that help women / men to get ahead in (COUNTRY)?Women MenIntelligenceBritainIntelligence29%19%US AustraliaIntelligence25%15%6November 2019 | World QuestionsIn Britain, working hard is seen as much more important for womens success than mens, in contrast to opinions in the US and Australia.November 2019 | World Questions 737%29%The proportion of the British public who see working hard as important for women to get ahead is 8 percentage points higher than the same figure for men.By contrast, in the US and Australia working hard is seen as almost equally important for both genders to get ahead.Q: Which two or three of the following, if any, do you think have been the most important factors that help women / men to get ahead in (COUNTRY)?Women MenWorking hardBritainWorking hard40%37%US37%35%Working hardBase: 19,443 online adults aged 16-74 across 27 countries, 20 September to 4 October 2019Australia8November 2019 | World QuestionsBut there is agreement between the three countries that having the right connections is a bigger factor in getting ahead for men than for women.November 2019 | World Questions 915%29%In Britain, 29% say having connections is important in men succeeding, almost twice as many as the 15% who say the same for women.The difference is similar in Australia and even greater in the US, where a quarter of the public say connections are key to mens success, compared with one in 10 who say they are key for womens.Q: Which two or three of the following, if any, do you think have been the most important factors that help women / men to get ahead in (COUNTRY)?Is connectedBritainIs connected11%25%US14%27%Is connectedBase: 19,443 online adults aged 16-74 across 27 countries, 20 September to 4 October 2019Women MenAustralia10November 2019 | World QuestionsGood looks are significantly more likely to be cited as a key factor in womens success than in mens in Britain, the US and Australia.