On March 26, 2025, our Youth4Ukraine volunteering team hosted a gender-themed event at the West University of Timisoara.

Our goal? To raise awareness about gender equality and analyze how gender stereotypes are perceived by young university students. Our strategy? Engaging activities, fun games, interactive discussions, and a survey,  with some sweet rewards along the way 😉

Keep reading if you want to discover what we found out!

Our analytical team put together two surveys—one in Romanian (with 78 responses) and another in English (with 34 responses) about gender roles, stereotypes and future expectations on the issue. The results revealed some eye-opening insights. Let’s dive into them! First of all, do people still believe in gender differences? Turns out, a lot of people still think men and women have different strengths and weaknesses. An impressive 65% of respondents agreed with this statement, highlighting the continued prevalence of traditional gender-based perceptions.

And what about traditional gender roles in the household? Are we still stuck in the old-fashioned idea that women are the primary caregivers and men the primary breadwinners? The results from the surveys suggest that such stereotypes are becoming a thing of the past, with almost 55% of respondents feeling that these are old beliefs. Yet, it must also be noted that a significant portion, at around 40%, acknowledged that there’s still work to be done, as the problem still partially persists. When we look at the extent to which gender stereotypes contribute to inequality in today’s society, the results are more clear-cut. Students were asked to rate the impact of stereotypes on inequality on a scale from 1 (not much) to 5 (a lot). A significant 72% of responses fell within the 4-5 range, emphasising the significant role stereotypes play in perpetuating gender inequality.

Beyond numbers, our surveys included some more open-ended questions to explore the tangible effects of gender inequality on the respondents’ daily lives.
We summarized the ideas collected and here are some key takeaways:

• Career Barriers: Gender-based biases still hinder professional growth. The gender pay gap remains a reality, and stereotypes often limit career choices, making certain job fields more difficult to enter.
• Mental Health Struggles: Constantly trying to fit into gender roles can have severe psychological effects. Adding to that, labeling certain emotions, physical appearances or personality traits as strictly “feminine” or “masculine” can cause a sense of inadequacy and mental distress.
• Sexual Harassment: Women respondents highlighted that they face a higher risk of violence simply because of their gender. Whether in the workplace, public spaces, or even at home, gender inequality often results in sexual harassment and abuse, undermining safety and personal well-being.
• Social and political inequality: In many societies, women bear the primary responsibility for child-rearing and household duties, often at the expense of their own careers, personal time, or health.

The survey results and discussions at our event confirmed an important truth: while gender stereotypes still exist, young people are actively questioning and challenging them. There is room for improvement but students are pushing for change.

So, the question that naturally arises is: What is next? The road ahead may seem long, but change is happening. The good news? We can all be part of the solution! Whether it’s through education, changing the way media represents gender, or pushing for fair workplace policies, every effort counts.

Our gender equality event was just one step in this ongoing journey. Want to contribute? Stay tuned, more events and activities are coming, and everyone’s help is appreciated! Together we can make a difference!