Public opinion on nuclear weapons: is there a gender gap?

As weapons of mass destruction persistently dominate international discourse and debate, it is crucial to recognize that these weapons can affect any and all citizens. Hence, this paper aims to examine the crucial significance of public opinion in the context of nuclear arms. An important but relatively unexplored issue is that attitudes towards nuclear weapons can vary significantly between different demographic groups within society.

This paper focuses specifically on gender. Specifically, the paper aims to answer the following research questions: Is there a gender gap in attitudes towards nuclear disarmament? The research conducted for this paper systematized existing public opinion polls and academic surveys on issues related to nuclear weapons.

The findings indicate that women tend to be more opposed than men to nuclear proliferation and express greater discomfort about the existence of nuclear weapons. Results on opinions about the use of nuclear weapons are conflicting: some studies suggest that men are more inclined to approve than women, while others argue the opposite, that women are more likely to approve than men. In relation to arms control and nuclear disarmament, no distinct gender differences in public opinion were identified.