According to Wilmott and Young, what is the process by which gender equality spreads in society?

Wilmott and Young's theory emphasizes that social changes, including the movement toward gender equality, often happen through stratified diffusion from upper social classes to lower ones. This concept suggests that behaviors, attitudes, and practices related to gender equality are first adopted by the more affluent or higher-status groups within society. Over time, these changes trickle down to lower socioeconomic classes, influencing broader societal norms and practices.

This process works because those in higher classes often have more access to education, resources, and platforms to promote and establish progressive ideals, including those around gender roles. Their influence can shape public perception and make gender equality more accepted or desirable across the social spectrum, thereby facilitating a gradual spread of these values throughout society.

In contrast, factors like social diffusion from lower classes or immediate change across all socioeconomic classes do not align with Wilmott and Young's view, as these would underestimate the influence that those in upper social strata have in setting trends and standards for wider adoption. Similarly, the idea of directly imposed equality through legislation does not capture the nuanced, gradual process they describe; while laws can create frameworks for equality, societal change typically evolves through cultural shifts that are more deeply rooted than legislative actions alone.