Men and women are questioning whether the liberalism of the 1960s is still desired according to a survey* for BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour. When questioned about sex and relationships, the many respondents showed an aspiration to settle down in their twenties, have families before they reach thirty years old and remain committed to one partner for life.

The survey, analysed by Dr Sarah Childs, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Politics at Bristol University and Dr Rosie Campbell at Birkbeck College, was specially commissioned by Woman’s Hour for the programme’s 60th anniversary (7 October). 

The survey is split into four categories - sex and relationships; work; parenting and caring and domestic arrangements. The results will be analysed and discussed on the programme throughout this week.

The results on sex and relationships include the following findings:

• 90 per cent of men and women say that the ideal age to have children is under 30.
• 43 per cent of men and women aspire to a lifelong commitment with one partner.
• 40 per cent say that the ideal age of settling down is between 25-27 years old, and 33 per cent say it’s as young as 21-24.
• 90 per cent of men and women asked claim never to have had an affair.
• 80 per cent say that it’s wrong for unhappily married couples to stay together for the sake of their children.
• 58 per cent of men say that it’s right to settle for a “good enough partner”.

Results on work, lifestyle and parenting include:

• 41 per cent of women feel guilty about placing their pre-school child in childcare compared to 20 per cent of men.
• 72 per cent say that money is an important factor when deciding when to have children.  51 per cent say it’s important to delay until marriage.
• 38 per cent of men and women felt that a mother at home is the ideal way in which to care for pre-school children, as opposed to only 0.3 per cent for a father staying at home as the child carer.
• 45 per cent of women and 57 per cent of men reported sharing household chores equally.
• 65 per cent of women believe they should receive 50 per cent of a couple’s estate when divorcing, compared to 40 per cent of men.

Drs Sarah Childs and Rosie Campbell, commenting on the results, said: “The survey suggests that women are not prepared to settle for merely a ‘good enough man.’ Women are still doing more of the chores and childcare and they’re looking for Mr Right, not Mister Will-do.”

* Survey conducted by ICM Research