More women back Likud than men — poll

In honor of International Women’s Day, Channel 2 features a poll spotlighting gender differences with regard to the upcoming elections on March 17.

According to the survey of about 1,000 respondents (both male and female), women were more concerned about security issues than men and most likely to vote Likud (18%). Their second choice was the Zionist Union (16%). For men, the top choice was the Zionist Union (23%), followed by Likud (19%).

More women than men are likely to vote for the ultra-Orthodox parties, although neither one (Shas, United Torah Judaism) has a female candidate on its slate, and 61% say that whether or not a party has adequate female representation will affect their voting choices. Still, some 60% say all parties should reserve slots for women.

Although the Zionist Union was not their top choice, on women’s issues, the majority of female respondents say Tzipi Livni would best advance women’s issues (24%). The most important gender issues to resolve are the wage gap (61%), followed by subsidies for daycare (39%), the respondents say.

As for a female prime minister, 60% of men and 60% of women say they would back a female prime minister. But 42% say that the political situation would be the same under a female prime minister’s leadership, while 27% say it would be improved.

The margin of error for the poll is 3.1%.