<strong>Perceptions</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Population</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Republic</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Moldova</strong> on Discrimination: Sociological Study 40The respondents indicated different reasons for <strong>the</strong> lack <strong>of</strong> equal opportunities. Thus, according to<strong>the</strong>ir opinion, <strong>the</strong>re are no equal opportunities in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Republic</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Moldova</strong> because <strong>of</strong>ten women have adouble task: to maintain <strong>the</strong> family and raise children (43%), <strong>the</strong>re are biological differences betweenwomen and men (33%), women are more busy with child raising (32%), <strong>the</strong> Bible treats differently womenand men (25%), women cannot practice certain pr<strong>of</strong>essions (24%), women have lower salaries than men(16%), women are not promoted in top positions (14%), women are not accepted in politics (11%) and <strong>the</strong>lack <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> needed legal framework for women to assert <strong>the</strong>mselves (11%) (see Chart 26).Chart 26. Respondents' perceptions on <strong>the</strong> causes for unequal opportunities for women and men in <strong>the</strong><strong>Republic</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Moldova</strong>, %lack <strong>of</strong> a legal framework to ensure realequal opportunitieswomen are not accepted in politics1111women are not promoted in top positionswomen have lower salaries than men1416women cannot practice certain pr<strong>of</strong>essions<strong>the</strong> Bible treats differently women and men2425women are more busy with child raising<strong>the</strong>re are biological differences betweenwomen and men<strong>of</strong>ten women have a double task: to support<strong>the</strong> family and raise children323343The share <strong>of</strong> people who believe that women <strong>of</strong>ten have a double task is higher in urban areas (47%),among women (47%), among persons over 65 years old (49%) and among persons with higher education(49%).The share <strong>of</strong> people who believe that <strong>the</strong>re are some biological differences between men and womenis higher in urban areas (38%), among men (34%), persons over 65 years (42%) and persons with lowereducation (38%).The share <strong>of</strong> people who believe that women are busier with child raising than men is higher amongwomen (35%), persons from <strong>the</strong> age group <strong>of</strong> 18-34 years (37%) and persons with a high level <strong>of</strong> education(36%).The share <strong>of</strong> people who believe that women are not accepted in politics is higher in urban areas (17%)and among persons with higher education (15%).To make a more detailed analysis <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> situation <strong>of</strong> women and men in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Republic</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Moldova</strong>, <strong>the</strong>respondents were asked to confirm or deny certain prejudices, existing in <strong>the</strong> society, about <strong>the</strong> role <strong>of</strong>women and men, specifically: "<strong>the</strong> man is <strong>the</strong> head <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> family", "household chores are mainly women'sduty", "a woman is not fulfilled, unless she has a family and children", "to earn money is mainly men's duty","men should do <strong>the</strong> difficult physical works", "men can raise children as well as women", "politics is not forwomen", "women are less intelligent and cannot hold managerial positions".The analysis <strong>of</strong> answers reveals that <strong>the</strong> <strong>Moldova</strong>n society still has a traditional and conservative viewon <strong>the</strong> distribution <strong>of</strong> women's and men's roles. Thus, more than 80% <strong>of</strong> respondents believe that <strong>the</strong> manis <strong>the</strong> head <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> family. Though <strong>the</strong>re are differences in answers by areas <strong>of</strong> residence and genders, <strong>the</strong>ydo not influence significantly <strong>the</strong> dominant <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> answer. By <strong>the</strong> level <strong>of</strong> education, <strong>the</strong> share <strong>of</strong>respondents who believe that <strong>the</strong> man is <strong>the</strong> head <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> family decreases with <strong>the</strong> increase in <strong>the</strong> level <strong>of</strong>education, from 94% in <strong>the</strong> group <strong>of</strong> respondents with a low level <strong>of</strong> education to 78% in <strong>the</strong> group <strong>of</strong>respondents with a high level <strong>of</strong> education (Chart 27).
<strong>Perceptions</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Population</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Republic</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Moldova</strong> on Discrimination: Sociological Study 41Chart 27. Share <strong>of</strong> respondents who believe that <strong>the</strong> man is <strong>the</strong> head <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> family, by gender, area <strong>of</strong> residence,level <strong>of</strong> education, %The man The is man is <strong>the</strong> head <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong> family <strong>the</strong> family8488878180948778total women men urban rural low level<strong>of</strong>educationmiddlelevel <strong>of</strong>educationhigh level<strong>of</strong>educationMore than two thirds <strong>of</strong> respondents perceive <strong>the</strong> woman’s role in <strong>the</strong> family as a person who does <strong>the</strong>housework. The share <strong>of</strong> people who share this opinion is higher among men (83%), rural residents (81%),and people with a low level <strong>of</strong> education (88%).Chart 28. Share <strong>of</strong> respondents who believe that it is ra<strong>the</strong>r women’s duty to do housework, by gender, area <strong>of</strong>residence, education level, %,It is ra<strong>the</strong>r women’s dutyIt is ra<strong>the</strong>r to do houseworkto dohousework79 837677 81888273total women men urban rural low level<strong>of</strong>educationmiddlelevel <strong>of</strong>educationhigh level<strong>of</strong>educationOver 60% <strong>of</strong> respondents believe that a woman is not fulfilled unless she has a family and children. Theshare <strong>of</strong> respondents who share this opinion is higher in rural areas (65%) and among people with a lowlevel <strong>of</strong> education (70%) (see Chart 29).