Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

As to the gifts for Defender of the Fatherland Day, men’s expectations go against women’s possibilities.

MOSCOW, January 22, 2019. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of a study devoted to Defender of the Fatherland Day.  

In people’s minds, Defender of the Fatherland Day is perceived as a holiday for men (47%). According to 40% of Russians, this is a holiday of those who used to serve in the army. Seven percent consider that this is a holiday for those who do military service at the moment. Only 3% think this is an ordinary day-off.

Men’s expectations for this holiday and the reality differ a lot. One-third of Russian women (35%) are going to give perfumery, however only 7% of male respondents would like to receive it as a gift. The most popular presents for men include souvenirs (29%), clothes and shoes (16%), alcohol (13%) and money (12%). Men would like to receive a travel package as a gift (22%), but only 1% of women are going to give a travel package. A further 17% would like to get a car; 13% would appreciate tickets to concerts or theatres or a dinner at the restaurant; the same number of respondents would like to get money (13%). Every tenth respondent (10%) dreams of smartphones and gadgets as a gift; only 7% of women plan to buy them as gifts. Ten percent of respondents would like to have a book for this holiday.

“Guessing” is one of the most popular way for women to choose a gift for this holiday (31%); at the same time 29% try to “find out” (direct questions) what should be given. A further 28% buy what they have money for. Others do not bother themselves and give a standard kit made up of a deodorant, perfumery and socks (13%). Every tenth woman (12%) gives money thinking that the man will buy what he wants.

All-Russian VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on February 20, 2019. The survey involved 1,600 Russians aged 18 and over. The survey was telephone-based and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.

 

In your opinion, the Defender of the Fatherland Day is…? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)

 

Total respondents

A holiday for those who do military service  

7

A holiday for those who used to serve in the army

40

A holiday for all the men

47

An ordinary day-off 

3

Don’t know

3

What are you going to give as a gift to your friends and men you know? (closed-ended question, up to 4 answers, % of female respondents)

 

Women

Perfumery, cosmetics, bijouterie

35

Souvenirs (pens, notebooks, purses, etc.)

29

Clothes, shoes

16

Alcohol, candies, specialty products

13

Money

12

Games, toys

8

Tickets to concerts, theatres, dinner at the restaurant

8

Book

8

Mobile phone, smartphone, gadgets

7

Domestic appliances (tea kettle, coffee machine)

6

I will cook a  special dinner

4

Flowers

2

Jewellery

2

Computer

1

Travel package, trip

1

Sports gear, gym membership

1

Tools

1

Camera , video camera, TV set

0

Car

0

Car accessories

0

I will not give anything to anyone

11

Other

3

Don’t know

3

What would you like to receive as a gift for Defender of the Fatherland Day?

 (closed-ended question, up to 4 answers, % of male respondents)

 

Men

Travel package, trip

22

Car

17

Tickets to concerts, theatres, dinner at the restaurant

13

Money

13

Mobile phone, smartphone, gadgets

10

Book

10

Souvenirs (pens, notebooks, purses, etc.)

8

Camera , video camera, TV set

8

Perfumery, cosmetics, bijouterie

7

Computer

7

Domestic appliances (tea kettle, coffee machine)

6

Attention of relatives

6

Alcohol, candies, specialty products

4

Clothes, shoes

3

Jewellery

2

Attention from the state

2

Flowers

1

Car accessories

1

House, apartment

1

Fishing rod, fishing tools

1

Games, toys

0

Tools

0

I do not want to receive any gifts

13

Other

4

Don’t know

10

How do you often choose gifts to men for Defender of the Fatherland Day?

  (closed-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of female respondents)

 

Women

I try to imagine  what he would like to receive as a gift

31

I ask directly what he needs  

29

I buy what I have enough money for

28

I give  a standard kit:  deodorant, perfumery, socks

13

I give money letting him buy what he wants  

12

I ask his friends and relatives  

8

I give what I have or what I was given before

1

I almost never give gifts for this holiday

8

Don’t know

4

 

Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!

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