In the past decades, women were often deprived of equal opportunities to men, which ushered in an era of feminist activism in different parts of the world. It led several countries to embrace the concept of feminism, which advocated equal rights and opportunities for women. While no country has achieved 100% gender equality yet, many countries have evolved to become feminists. A recently published Ipsos survey revealed the top countries whose citizens openly identify themselves as feminists.
Let’s explore the top 12 feminist countries with the highest female feminist identification.
India
India is leading the pack of feminist countries, with 73% of women self-identifying as feminists. The country was previously known for rampant discrimination against women, but its citizens’ evolving belief systems have brought a transformative shift throughout the nation. Pew also surveyed Indian citizens in 2022 and found that eight in ten people now believe it is essential for women to have the same rights as men. They also freely accept women as political leaders and other important positions.
Spain
When Spanish women were asked whether they classify themselves as feminists, 55% said yes, making it the second country, next to India, with the highest number of self-identifying feminists. Spain is also famous for its progressive laws on gender equality and the rising prominence of feminist movements that advocate for women’s rights and empowerment. It ranks 6th in the Gender Equality Index in the EU region, primarily because of increased improvements in education, healthcare, and power domains for women.
China
Approximately 39% of respondents in China self-identified themselves as feminists, making it a prominent country with one of the highest numbers of self-identifying female feminists. While China has strong laws to protect women’s rights and offer them equal opportunities, it is far from being a fully feminist nation. The ground reality has brewed a fresh wave of feminism activism online, with various women stepping up to create female-friendly spaces in gyms, hostels, etc., to further the implementation of this concept in real life.
Brazil
Brazil was previously infamous for its decades-old patriarchal beliefs, which have now started to change because of strong feminist movements throughout the country. As talks around women’s rights become more prevalent, more people are opening up to embracing the idea of feminism. When Brazilian citizens were asked whether they identify as feminists, a resounding 39% said ‘yes.’ As feminist movements become more prevalent in Brazil, one can expect more people to self-identify themselves as feminists.
United States
The U.S. is probably known for its feminist activism. The country is among the few that has witnessed strong legal and social advancements for women. A recently conducted survey asked people whether they agreed that women should be entitled to equal rights as men, and a resounding 93.3% of American participants said yes. In another survey, approximately 34% of the surveyed American respondents agreed to the statement that they define themselves as feminists, making it one of the biggest countries with the highest female feminist identification.
Germany
While Germany is often viewed as a progressive country, it isn’t entirely free from gender biases. The best part about this country is that its government and citizens are taking appropriate measures to make it a feminist nation. When German citizens were surveyed to gather their opinions on feminism, approximately 32% of the surveyed participants self-identified themselves as feminists. Germany is also one of the few countries that have embraced a ‘feminist foreign policy’ to ensure women’s issues are heard globally and solved efficiently, taking a step further to make the country more feminist.
South Korea
South Korea has witnessed massive feminist movements, the most popular being 4B, to improve the societal standing of females within the country. While the term ‘feminist’ isn’t viewed positively by many South Koreans, it isn’t stopping women from becoming feminists. Despite the severe negative connotations attached to the word ‘feminist,’ nearly 21% of surveyed South Korean respondents self-identified themselves as feminists.
Japan
The concept of feminism isn’t new to Japanese citizens because the country has witnessed several feminist movements since the 1970s. Their scale and intensity kept growing with time. Since Japanese women have been historically marginalized, they are slowly starting to reclaim their rights by becoming part of the growing feminist movements. When Ipsos surveyed Japanese citizens to gather their opinions on feminism, nearly 15% of respondents self-identified themselves as feminists.
