The Gender Equality Conversations Survey: The Issues and Platforms was conducted by Penn Schoen Berland (PSB) in partnership with Burson-Marsteller Advantage Women. The survey demonstrates how communications has played an important role in the advancement of gender equality throughout history and fueled policy battles and held businesses accountable for equality in the workplace. The survey showcases beliefs about the importance of speaking out on women’s issues, the most effective ways to be vocal, the platforms audiences use to stay informed and the persistent challenges women face in the workplace. The data encourages us to continue to explore how communication tactics around gender equality milestones have and will propel women’s issues to the forefront of political and corporate agendas. Continue the conversation with us on Twitter using the hashtags #BursonTogether and #BMAdvantageWomen.

1. Gender Equality Conversations Survey:
The Issues and Platforms
BURSON-MARSTELLER PRESENTS
Traditional news media
is the least effective way
to vocalize women’s
issues—yet it is the most
popular platform for
keeping up-to-date
about them.
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO
SPEAK OUT ABOUT ISSUES
INVOLVING WOMEN’S RIGHTS?
46%
31%
19%
20%
12%
14%
WHAT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO BE VOCAL
ABOUT YOUR SUPPORT FOR WOMEN’S RIGHTS?
WHAT PLATFORMS DO PEOPLE USE TO STAY INFORMED
ABOUT ISSUES, MOVEMENTS AND DEMONSTRATIONS
INVOLVING WOMEN’S RIGHTS?
AMONG RESPONDENTS WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN A
PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION WITHIN THE PAST 30 YEARS:
Elected Officials // 31%
Social Media // 20%
Public Demonstrations // 19%
Traditional Media // 12%
Other // 14%
NEWS MEDIA
53% 43% 34%
SOCIAL MEDIA WORD OF MOUTH
HEY!
of the demonstrations
were related to
women’s rights
69%
of people heard
about the
demonstrations
by word of mouth
62% of people learned
about the
demonstrations
via social media
PERSISTENT CHALLENGES FOR WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE
of respondents think equal
pay for women is the most
important issue
Burson-Marsteller is a leading global strategic communications and public relations firm, operating
in 110 countries across six continents with 73 offices and 85 affiliate offices. Burson-Marsteller is a
part of Young & Rubicam Group, a subsidiary of WPP.
PSB Pulse is an online survey fielded on the first Monday of each month. It explores issues of interest
to decision makers in business, marketing, communications, and public policy among a
representative and continuously refreshed sample of 800 U.S. households. The statistics above are
the result of PSB interviews conducted between March 6-9, 2017.
71%
WOMEN’S
RIGHTS
Burson-Marsteller Advantage Women is a global offering focused on helping companies take full
advantage of the benefits associated with closing the gender gap in order to create more
opportunities for women to rise as leaders. Advantage Women builds on increasing demand from
current and prospective clients to develop powerful communications strategies to promote the
value of gender diversity in the workplace.
82%
male
female
84%
86%
This average includes:
82% of the men polled
NEWS
of respondents
say it is
important
86% of the women polled
of female respondents have
experienced workplace discrimination22%
70% of them reported that nothing was
done to resolve their situation
46%
Nearly half of respondents who have participated in a public
demonstration protested in support of gender equality. However, just
14% of respondents have participated in a public demonstration at all.