Yet across all five countries, a common expectation emerges: ideological differences matter, but political legitimacy ultimately depends on performance – on whether political actors can move beyond blame, translate promises into policy, and address the crises that shape young people’s present and future life chances. 3.4 Gender equality: Shared recognition of inequality, diverging gendered experiences and perspectives Gender inequality remains a reality: Most young adults across Germany, Greece, Poland, Spain and Sweden recognise that men continue to hold structural advantages. Women express this more strongly, linking it to personal experiences, while men often focus on individual merit or broader trends. Gender equality is seen as an ongoing process rather than a fully achieved goal, particularly by women given their everyday experiences. Workplace challenges: Women are widely perceived to face obstacles in pay, promotion, leadership and career choice, often needing to work harder to be taken seriously. Men generally acknowledge these inequalities, though some retain traditional views about women’s leadership abilities. Quotas and other institutional measures are supported by some women but questioned by many men. Care and family responsibilities: Traditional gender roles continue to influence career options and care responsibilities, often to women’s disadvantage. Some men feel pressure to earn the main income, even though many view these norms as outdated. The distribution of work and care responsibilities is generally seen as a private decision that couples should negotiate based on mutual agreement and fairness. Gender-based violence and harassment: Sexual harassment and violence against women are recognised as serious and widespread. Women often share personal experiences, while men acknowledge the problem but sometimes struggle to engage fully. Safety in public spaces and workplaces is a key concern, and participants highlight gaps in prevention, legal enforcement and institutional protection. Awareness campaigns and legal measures are appreciated but often seen as insufficient. While questions of political performance and legitimacy dominated the previous sections, reflections on the quality of democracy repeatedly intersected with another dimension of fairness: gender equality. Even when not addressed spontaneously, issues of equal opportunity, representation and protection from discrimination form an important backdrop to how young people evaluate society more broadly. Examining how young men and women perceive the state of gender equality – whether as largely achieved, still contested or even overextended – offers deeper insight into their understandings of justice, merit and social change. 62 EqualiZe