Changing attitudes about the roles of women and men have also affected the way people conduct their everyday lives. For example, many men now take a more active role in parenting. More husbands now join their wives in natural childbirth classes. Some men have taken parental leave from work or chosen to work part-time when they become new fathers.

Notable differences in outlook still exist between the sexes, however. In the early 1980's, U.S. elections revealed for the first time a "gender gap," where women followed a different voting pattern than men. Women's votes showed greater support for candidates favoring social programs and domestic spending, while more men voted for candidates favoring defense spending. A similar voting pattern has emerged in other countries, including Britain, Canada, and Sweden.

Excerpt from the "Women's movements" article, The World Book Encyclopedia © 1999