Summary

The Federal Office for Gender Equality (EBG) commissioned the OECD to conduct a study examining gender-specific trust differences in Swiss institutions. While Switzerland shows internationally high trust values, it exhibits one of the most pronounced gender gaps among 30 OECD countries. Women systematically trust public institutions less than men – a phenomenon that has been comprehensively documented for the first time. The study was presented in Bern on June 9, 2026, and is intended to inform the revision of the Equality Strategy 2030.

Key Persons

  • Federal Office for Gender Equality (EBG) (Commissioning body)

Topics

  • Gender parity
  • Institutional trust
  • Political participation
  • Democracy and civic engagement

Clarus Lead

The trust gap between women and men in Swiss institutions is nearly twice as large as the OECD average – a finding with direct consequences for democratic legitimacy and reform capacity. These insights come at a critical moment: the Federal Council is currently revising its Equality Strategy 2030 and can now draw on reliable data for gender-equitable policy-making. The study shows that trust gaps are not merely symbolic – they concretely influence the utilization of services and voting participation.

Detailed Summary

The OECD study documents a systematic pattern: while 65 percent of men have confidence in their ability to participate politically, only 45 percent of women do. This difference is reflected in actual participation – 26 percent of women engage in no political activity, compared to 17 percent of men. The gap becomes particularly evident in assessments of administrative fairness: while almost two-thirds of men believe that support requests are treated equitably, only about half of women share this view. When asked whether Parliament represents the interests of different population groups equitably, six out of ten men say yes – but fewer than half of women.

The study recommends concrete measures: earlier and more intensive political inclusion of girls and women, better consideration of gender-specific expectations in public services, and more transparent administrative procedures. Central to the recommendations is the call for improved collection and use of gender-specific data – a recommendation that aligns with the Federal Council's guidelines on gender aspects in statistics. Such data are considered essential for effectively tailoring policy measures to the entire population.

Key Findings

  • Women in Switzerland trust public institutions significantly less than men – a difference nearly twice as large as the OECD average
  • The trust gap correlates with lower political participation and skepticism toward administrative fairness
  • Action recommendations focus on early political participation, gender-sensitive service design, and improved data collection

Critical Questions

  1. Evidence: How were trust values collected – through representative surveys, interviews, or secondary data? What sample size and margins of error are available?

  2. Data Quality: Were sociodemographic factors (age, education, income, migration background) controlled for, or might the gap reflect other differences?

  3. Causality: Does low trust lead to lower participation, or does exclusion from participation lead to loss of trust? Which direction dominates?

  4. Feasibility: How concrete are the recommendations for "early political inclusion" of girls? Which school reforms or institutions are meant?

  5. Conflicts of Interest: The EBG commissioned the study – is there an incentive to emphasize gender differences to justify resources for equality measures?

  6. Comparability: Were OECD countries surveyed using identical methodologies, or could different collection methods have skewed the Swiss figures?

  7. Side Effects: Could measures to increase women's trust have unintended consequences – such as gender polarization or backlash?

Sources

Primary Source: Federal Office for Gender Equality (EBG) / OECD – Study on Gender-Specific Trust Differences in Swiss Institutions (09.06.2026) – https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/nXbyFcZ8PZTt9ykuGLAwC

Supplementary Sources:

  1. Federal Council – Guidelines on Consideration of Gender in Studies and Statistics (2024) – https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/fga/2024/410/de
  2. Federal Council – Equality Strategy 2030 – https://www.admin.ch/de/newnsb/mxp0T3OlcYcn4cNstJAsX

Verification Status: ✓ 09.06.2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Check: 09.06.2026