A new poll says that fewer than four out of every 10 Americans want to see a woman president in their lifetime.
However, that average is a result of a sharp divide between Democrats and Republicans.
69 percent of female Democrat respondents said they hope to see a woman in the White House, as well as 46 percent of male Democrat respondents, compared to just 20 percent of female Republicans and 16 percent of male Republicans.
45 percent of female independents and 32 percent of male independents would like to see a woman in the White House.
“To be sure, for many Republicans this view may be more about the prospect of a Hillary Clinton presidency than about a major milestone for women, a perspective that likely influences the way they respond to this ‘hypothetical’ question,” noted the Pew Research Center, which conducted the poll, which examined the subjects of women and leadership across many sectors.
For instance, when asked what’s holding women back from top jobs, 38 percent said the major reason there aren’t more women in high political offices is that women are held to higher standards, while 37 percent answered that the populace is not ready to hire/elect women leaders.
17 percent said family responsibilities don’t leave enough time, while 27 percent said that women don’t have sufficient connections. Another 8 percent believe that women are not tough enough.
On the children question, people were relatively divided about when a woman should have children if she wants to reach a top position in business. 40 percent believed that she should have children later in her career; 36 percent said early in her career; and 22 percent said she shouldn’t have children at all.
The report utilized two surveys. The main survey was conducted online Nov. 12-21, 2014, among a sample of 1,835 adults – 921 women and 914 men – 18 years of age or older.
A second survey was conducted Nov. 20-23, 2014, among 1,004 adults, 18 years of age or older, living in the continental United States.
